Background: Although studies have been conducted on muscle thickness and balance in trunk stabilization exercise and exercise using vibration props, studies on trunk stabilization exercise using active vibration for spinal alignment are still insufficient to draw a conclusion. Objectives: To investigate the effect of trunk stabilization exercise using active vibration on the spinal alignment in adult females. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-six adult females were randomly assigned to the experimental group (active vibration) and 13 control groups (active non-vibrating) and exercised three times a week for 8 weeks. Each group was measured for spinal alignment before exercise and 8 weeks after exercise. Spinal alignment, trunk imbalance, pelvic tilt, and pelvic torsion were measured using a spinal alignment analyzer. Results: Trunk imbalance was a significantly different depending on the time in the experimental group and the control group (P<.05). Pelvic tilt was a significant difference between the groups (P<.05). Also, pelvic tilt was a significantly different depending on the time in the experimental group (P<.05), but the control group showed no significant difference (P>.05). Pelvic torsion was no significant difference in both groups (P>.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that trunk stabilization exercise using active vibration has a positive effect on the alignment of the spine.

Background : There is lack of studies on the effects of the bag-carrying style on the shoulder muscles and body alignment in adults with rounded shoulder posture (RSP). Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various bag-carrying styles on muscle tone, muscle stiffness and spinal alignment in 20 adults with RSP as they were walking on a treadmill. Design : Crossover Study Design. Methods: A subject performed treadmill walking for 15 minutes at a speed of 4 ㎞/ｈ while carrying three different types of bags: a backpack, a cross bag, and a shoulder bag. Results : The results showed that the main effect of timing was observed in the muscle tone for all the variables and in muscle stiffness only for the upper and lower trapezius muscles. As for the main effect of timing, the muscle tone of the upper trapezius and the pectoralis major significantly increased in all conditions, while the muscle tone of the lower trapezius significantly decreased in all conditions. The muscle stiffness of the upper trapezius significantly increased in all conditions, while the muscle stiffness of the lower trapezius significantly decreased in all conditions. As for the spinal alignment, the dimple distance data values significantly decreased for the cross-bag style. Conclusions : This study demonstrated that walking with a heavy bag, regardless of the bag-carrying style, increased muscle stiffness around the shoulders in adults with rounded shoulder posture, and walking with a crossbag also induced changes in spinal alignment.

Background: Breathing is the essential step of Pilates exercise and can be used to activate core muscles. Although the effects of breathing exercise on pain, breathing muscles, and cervical posture have been extensively studied, little is known about the impact of Pilates breathing on spinal posture and alignment. Purpose: To determine the effect of 3D-Pilates breathing exercise on spinal curvature and alignment of healthy adults during corrected to normal alignment. Design: One group pre-post test design Methods: Eighteen participants were given a 3D-pilates breathing exercise twice a week (20 minutes per session) for three weeks and warmed up for 10 minutes before each exercise session. To examine spinal curvature and alignment of each subject, this study used radiation free rasterstereography (Formetric Ⅲ, Germany). Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were performed to determine the difference between pre and post exercise. Results: There were statistically significant differences in height (p<.001), kyphosis angle (p<.05), trunk imbalance (p<.05), kyphotic apex (p<.01), cervical fleche (p<.05), pelvic tilt (p<.01), and lateral deviation (p<.05) between before and after 3D Pilates breathing exercise. However, there was no significant difference in lordosis angle. Conclusions: The study results indicated that three week 3D-pilates breathing exercise program could be presented as an effective rehabilitation method for improving spinal curvature and alignment.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the thoracic spine manipulation on spinal alignment (Cobb angle), pain, and trunk range of motion (ROM) in a patient with mild thoracic scoliosis. The Cobb angle was 11.0° and there was a right deviation of the thoracic spine. The subject had thoracic and lumbar pain, and had felt stiffness during turning of the trunk for about 3 years. Thoracic manipulation was applied at the upper thoracic spine as a therapeutic intervention three times per week for 5 weeks. After intervention, the Cobb angle decreased from 11.0° to 5.5° and the pain score decreased from 4.0 to 1.5, and the trunk left rotation ROM increased from 30.0° to 41.5°, and trunk right rotation ROM increased from 26.0° to 39.0°. These results suggest that the thrust thoracic manipulation technique had a positive effect on the spinal alignment, pain and trunk rotation ROM in patients with mild scoliosis.