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The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of shoulder stabilization exercises and stretching on shoulder height and muscle activity in young adults with rounded shoulder posture. The subjects were young adults with rounded shoulder posture, and divided into two groups: shoulder stabilization exercises and stretching exercises. The shoulder stabilization exercise group performed Thera band exercises and stretching exercises. The stretching exercise group performed stretching exercises. The groups performed the exercises for 40min, three times a week for four weeks. Shoulder height was measure by Vanier calipers and muscle activity was measured by electromyography. Shoulder height was significantly decreased in both groups after intervention, however there was no difference between groups. There was a significant difference in muscle activity between the two groups after the intervention, however there was no difference between the groups. This study suggests that shoulder stabilization exercise and stretching affect shoulder height and muscle activity.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of various shoes on the static and dynamic balance of young women in their 20s. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects of the study were 15 healthy young women and repeated measured design. The subjects walked on the treadmill at a speed of 4 km/h for 30 minutes wearing three types of shoes: sneaker, rain boots, and combat boots. Balance was measured by a Romberg test and a limits of stability test. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. [Results] As the results of the Romberg test, the main effect of time was shown in the EO-COG area, EO-COG length, and EO-COG velocity. As the results of the limits of stability test, the main effects of time in LT, RT, FW, and total. There were significant differences in the LT in the sneaker group, the rain boots group, and the LT and RT in the combat boots group between the pre- and post-test. [Conclusion] The characteristics of shoes such as the materials, hardness, and thickness of the soles, the coefficient of friction of the outsoles, and the collar height affected the static and dynamic balance.

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of cervical alignment, pain, and physique to apply proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF) techniques in patients with forward head posture (FHP). The subjects of this study were 24 patients diagnosed with FHP. They were randomly divided into two groups: a PNF group(n=12) and a control group(n=12). The intervention was performed a total of 24 times, 30 min a day, six times a week for four weeks. Data on cervical alignment(forward head displacement, FHD), pain(visual analog scale, VAS), and physique(height, weight, and body mass index) were obtained pre- and post-intervention. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the groups and time. For FHD, the VAS, and physique(height and BMI), there was an interaction effect for the groups and time(p

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the extent of lower extremity muscle activity before and after walking based on rain boot shaft length. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects, 12 young and healthy females, were divided into three groups based on rain boot shaft length (long, middle, and short). They walked on a treadmill for 30 minutes. Activity of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, and gastrocnemius was measured using electromyography before and after walking. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to compare the muscle activities of each group. [Results] There were no significant differences in terms of the interactive effects between group and time for all muscles, the main effects of group, or the main effects of time. [Conclusion] The results of this study may indicate that movement of the lower extremities was not significantly limited by friction force based on the characteristics of the boot material or the circumference of the boot shaft. Thus, it may be helpful instead to consider the material of the sole or the weight of the boots when choosing which rain boots to wear.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects on flexibility of bridge and plank exercises using sling suspension on an unstable surface. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 20 healthy adults in their 20s (plank=10, bridge=10). Both types of exercise were performed three times per week for a period of four weeks. Each exercise was performed in the front and side direction. Exercise intensity was altered through the use of a sling, which was placed at the knee and ankle. Flexibility at trunk forward flexion and backward extension was measured. The trunk forward flexion was measured at sitting position. The trunk backward extension was measured at prone position. The data were analyzed by Two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the preand post-test for both the bridge and plank exercise groups. In the bridge exercise, significant differences were shown in the trunk forward flexion and the trunk backward extension (p

A-31-year-old male (patient A) and a 19-year-old women (patient B) presented with FHP, neck pain, and headache. The therapeutic exercise program consisted of cervical mobilization, deep cervical flexors strengthening, and cervical extensors stretching, for 40 min/d, 2 d/week, for 8 weeks. Neck pain (VAS), neck disability (NDI), cervical range of motion (CROM), lateral view of cervical spine X-ray (indicating the FHP), and asymmetrical neck and shoulder muscular activity ratio were measured †Corresponding Author : hoseh28@dankook.ac.krThis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.before, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks of corrective exercise.

Due to the development of the modern society,the popularization rate of smart phones graduallyincreased and the time of using smart phonesrapidly increased. However, using a visual displayterminal(VDT) like smart phones for a long timemay trigger musculoskeletal disorders such asneck, lumbar, and shoulder pain(1). Using a VDTmay easily trigger damage to the upper extremi-ties such as the neck and the shoulder because oflimited task postures and repetitive upperextremity pattern, the height of working shelf,and reflection of the light increases tension of theeyes and as a result mental fatigue, damage to theupper extremity muscles and skeleton, and lowback pain are brought about(2). Cervical pain is onthe rise because of muscular stiffness resultingfrom continuously repeated work and maintaininga wrong posture habitually, damage to the cervicalarea in accordance with lack of exercise andincrease in traffic accidents, and cervical pain instudents who utilize computers frequently arisingfrom rapid popularization of computers(3). About70 percent of the population experience cervicalpain at least once in a lifetime and about 10 to 20percent of the population experiencing cervicalpain has a problem in their cervical spine(4). Cervical pain refers to cervical joint syndromecharacterized by pain and limited range of motionof the joints in the cervical area and the sur -rounding tissues. Cervical pain is caused by exter-nal shock, bone diseases, and inflammation. Inparticular, cervical pain is triggered by inflamma -tion in the structures such as tendons, muscles,disc of the cervical spine, and ligaments or othercauses. Cervical pain is included in musculoskele -tal diseases among occupational diseases andworking for a long time under excessive tensioncontinuously damages parts of the body such asthe muscles, joints, and nerves. As an occupationallesion which appears with overlapping of continuousdamages, the symptoms affect the joint area ofthe upper extremities, the head area, the cervical

【The purpose of the present study is to provide exercises, together with music, that are helpful for elderly people's balancing ability, and to determine their effects in order to provide data for the promotion of elderly persons' health. Thirty elderly persons were randomly assigned to a balance training group(BTG) of 15 subjects, or a music and balance training group (music therapy + balance training [MTBTG]) of 15 subjects; intervention was implemented three times per week for six weeks. To measure the changes in their balancing ability before and after the experiment, the limit of stability, the "Timed Up and Go"(TUG) test, and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were measured. Changes in the limit of stability before and after the experiment were shown to be significant in both the BTG and the MTBTG. Changes in the limit of stability of the right side before and after the experiment showed statistically significant differences between the BTG and the MTBTG. Changes in the TUG test and the BBS before and after the experiment were shown to be statistically significant in both the BTG and the MTBTG. The application of music during balance training thus is considered to have a positive effect on elderly persons' balancing ability.】

[Purpose] This study analyzed the effects of isotonic, isokinetic, and isometric exercises of ankle joint muscles on lower extremity muscle activity and balance control. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 30 healthy adults (15 males) in their 20s who were randomly assigned to three different exercise method groups of 10 people each. The isokinetic exercise group performed three sets at an angular velocity of 60°/sec, including a single rest period after every set of 10 repetitions. The isometric exercise group performed three sets consisting of three 15 repetitions of a 15-second exercise followed by a 5-second rest. [Results] Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that depending on the exercise method, the non-dominant tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius muscle, and peroneus longus showed significant differences in muscle activity for weight-bearing non-dominant sides; when the dominant side was weight-bearing, the dominant gastrocnemius and peroneus longus showed significant differences in muscle activity; and the non-dominant and dominant sides showed significant differences in balance control depending on the duration of support in the area. [Conclusion] Muscle fatigue from the three exercise methods produced a decline in muscle activity and balance control; due to the fatigue before exercise, the side that did not perform the exercises was affected.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of different shoe types on lower extremity muscle activity in healthy young women by using electromyography. [Subjects and Methods] Fifteen healthy young women in their 20s were included in this single-group repeated measures study. The subjects were divided into three groups: Converse sneakers, rain boots, and combat boots. The subjects walked on a treadmill at 4 km/h for 30 min, during which six muscles were examined using electromyography: the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, semimembranosus, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, and medial head of the gastrocnemius. Between switching shoe types, a 24-h rest period was instated to prevent the fatigue effect from treadmill walking. [Results] One-way analysis of variance used to compare electromyography results among the three groups showed that the main effect of group differed significantly for the vastus medialis. Vastus medialis activity was higher in the rain boots group than the Converse sneakers group, and it was higher in the combat boots group than rain boots group. [Conclusion] Shoe type affects lower extremity muscle activity. Our findings may help individuals choose the ideal shoes for daily walking.

【PURPOSE: This study is to investigate the effect of 4 weeks of gym ball exercise on the pelvis and spine of women in 20s. METHODS: Randomly selected 10 of 20 subjects are allocated to experimental group who will practice gym-ball exercise while the rest 10 subjects are allocated to control group. Values for pelvic obliquity DL-DR, pelvic torsion DL-DR, pelvic rotation, kyphotic angle ICT-ITL (max), and lordotic angle ITL-ILS (max) were measured through recording using 3-dimensional image analyzer as a preliminary inspection. Gym-ball exercise was implemented 3 sessions a week for 4 weeks. Each session consisted of 10 minutes of warm up exercise, 30 minutes of main exercise, and 10 minutes of cool down exercise totaling 50 minutes. Post inspections were measured after exercise. RESULTS: Experimental group showed statistically significant difference in pelvic obliquity DL-DR, pelvic torsion DL-DR, and kyphotic angle ICT-ITL (max) (p】

Balance is essential in performing all activities ofdaily living and is an ability to maintain the body inan equilibrium state(1). Ability to control posturalbalance is to maintain the center of gravity(COG) ona platform with minimal postural sway, when stand -ing in a fixed place, moving voluntarily, or respond -ing to force exerted from outside(1, 2). Ability tomaintain balance or recover disturbed balance duringordinary life is related to diverse sensory functions,motor functions, cognitive functions, and psychoso -cial functions, and environmental elements(3, 4).When moving the body on a flat ground and movingon a narrow beam, dynamically different posturalcontrol strategies are used. In addition, when the useof ankle joint strategy is decreased according to thedegree of center of body mass movement, use of thehip joint strategy increases, and when the use of hipjoint strategy is reduced, use of the ankle joint strat-egy rises, which is called a changeable postural con -trol strategy(5). Janda's sensorimotor training developed from anintervention approach to chronic musculoskeletalpain syndrome emphasized the importance of appro -priate functional adjustment of the sensory motorarea, coordinative movement, joint stability, and pro -prioception in exercise pattern balance(6). Proprio-ception is an ability to change muscular contractionthrough immediate response to force exerted fromoutside and play an important role in reducing func -tional instability and redamage. Recovery of proprio -ception in treatment intervention is an important ele -ment in treatment process(7). Sensorimotor traininghas been used as rehabilitation for damage to theankle joints and postural deficits, and previousresearch reported its preventive effect of ankle andknee joint damage. Recently, sensorimotor exercisehas been applied to motor performance as well asrehabilitation and prevention(8-11).

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of various dual task gait training methods (motor dual task gait training, cognitive dual task gait training, and motor and cognitive dual task gait training) on the balance and gait abilities of chronic stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-three outpatients performed dual task gait training for 30 minutes per day, three times a week, for eight weeks from June to August, 2012. Balance ability was measured pre-and posttest using the stability test index, the weight distribution index, the functional reach test, the timed up and go test, and the four square step test. Gait ability was measured by the 10 m walk test and a 6 min walk test before and after the training. The paired t-test was used to compare measurements before and after training within each group, and ANOVA was used to compare measurements before and after training among the groups. [Results] Comparisons within each group indicated significant differences in all variables between before and after the training in all three groups. Comparison between the groups showed that the greatest improvements were seen in all tests, except for the timed up and go test, following motor and cognitive dual task gait training. [Conclusion] In a real walking environment, the motor and cognitive dual task gait training was more effective at improving the balance and gait abilities of chronic stroke patients than either the motor dual task gait training or the cognitive dual task gait training alone.

【The purpose of this study was to test the effect of Gastrocnemius and Low Back-muscle isotonic exercise on static dynamic standing balance during the period of 4 weeks. This study was two groups pretest-posttest design. Nineteen subjects who were over 22 years old were randomly assigned to either the experimental group that received the Gastrocnemius muscle exercise(n=9) or the low back muscle exercise(n=10) : The former group performed isotonic exercise(plantar flexion), the latter group performed isotonic exercise(trunk extension) a total of 18 times for three times per week for four weeks. Two groups also performed static and dynamic balance before the exercise and 4weeks after the exercise. The data were analyzed by using the paired t-test and independent t-test. The results were as follows: As compared with change of dynamic balance performance capacity at two groups, a significant difference was shown in the test(p .05). Also, a significant difference of balance between groups was not shown in the test. In this study indicated that gastrocnemius and low back muscle isotonic exercise will have positive impact on standing balance.】

Recently, people ’s interest in health are beingincreased and it is easily found in a fitness centerthat women show keen interest in muscle develop -ment and muscular strength as well as men. When it comes to the symbol of exerciser, you cant’beat the abdominal muscles, pectoralis muscle, firmarm muscle and broad shoulders. Everyone may havehis own reason for exercising. However, most ofexercisers try to make their arm muscle so firm as tobe exposed even with the clothes on it. And peopleestimate the arm strength generally with the girthof arm, that is, the extent of muscle thickness ofarm. The grip strength is the grasping power of handsand normally indicates the muscular strength ofmuscles of arm. The hand is a part of human bodythat is used frequently in activities of daily living andcarries out complex functions. The hand movementsare assorted into 3 big categories of clenching, pick -ing up and grasping. Making all these movementsrequires various kinds of element, among which thegrip strength comes under the most important ele -ment(1). The item of grip strength is indispensable to evalu -ate the hand function in the fields of orthopedics,rehabilitation medicine and industrial medicine. Notonly the muscles of hand are related to the gripstrength but also such muscles as flexor carpi radi-alis, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum superfi-cialis, flexor pollicis longus, flexor hallucis brevis,flexor digiti minimi brevis, lumbricale andinterosseous muscle are related and the grip strengthappears as the result of cooperation among all theserelated muscles. Generally the grip strength isrecalled when people talk about the strength ofarm(2). The grip strength both of male and female starts togrow from the age of 10s and it reaches the top levelat the age of 30s to dwindle afterwards. The highestgrip strength of female in their 30s is weaker by43.31%, compared to that of male in their 30s andfemales are weaker by 39.67% than males when wecompare them in terms of overall average(3). The grip strength turns out to show the highest

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the effects of joint exercise, taping, and stretching on hip joint flexion, flexibility, and range of motion. [Subjects and Methods] Forty-five college students in their 20s were randomly assigned and equally divided into three groups, as follows: a stretching group, a taping and exercise group, and an exercise group. Changes in trunk range of motion and hip joint flexibility of the three groups were measured before and after the intervention. [Results] Comparison between flexibility before and after the intervention revealed statistically significant changes in all three groups. Moreover, the evaluation of joint range of motion after the intervention showed that there were statistically significant changes in all three groups. [Conclusion] Taping, stretching, and joint exercise are considered effective for the increase in flexibility and joint range of motion.

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of stretching and sling exercises on pelvic correction and dysmenorrhea in university students. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The subjects were divided into three groups: sling exercise group, stretching group, and control group. All groups performed each exercise for 40 minutes three times a week for 4 weeks. The control group received thermotherapy. All groups were measured for pelvic alignment, Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Menstrual Distress Questionnaire(MDQ). Repeated measures ANOVA were used to verify differences between groups and assessment times with respect to pelvic alignment, VAS and MDQ. Findings: Comparisons of all three groups before and after the intervention revealed significant differences in the VAS and MDQ scores. The post-intervention decreases in the VAS scores of the stretching group were more significant than those of the control group. Comparisons of pelvic alignment before and after the intervention in each group indicated that sling exercise significantly decreased sagittal imbalance, coronal imbalance, pelvic inclination, and pelvic torsion. In addition, stretching significantly decreased sagittal imbalance, coronal imbalance, pelvic inclination, pelvic torsion, and pelvic obliquity. The control group, however, did not demonstrate decreases in any of the variables, with the exception of coronal imbalance. In the stretching group, in particular, post-intervention pelvic inclination was more significantly decreased than that of the control group. Improvements/Applications: Sling and stretching exercises improve pelvic alignment, painful menstruation and dysmenorrhea. These exercises can be used as the data for various directions of interventions to alleviate or prevent dysmenorrhea.

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of varied support surfaces on body alignment and balance when performing exercises for core stabilization. Methods/Statistical analysis: A total of 19 healthy females took part in this study for 4 weeks. Subjects were separated into stable and unstable surface exercise groups. Core stabilization exercises were carried out 3 times a week for 60 minutes during 4 weeks. Measurements were performed before and after the intervention. We used 4D Formetric analysis to measure for body alignment and BT4 to measure for balance. Differences between the measured values of experimental groups exercising on stable and unstable surfaces were assessed. Findings: There was a notable variancein the mediolateral center of pressure displacement between the pre- and post-tests of the stable and unstable surface groups. Improvements/Applications: Core stabilized and combined exercise on stable and unstable surfaces could improve dynamic mediolateral balance control.

Background/Objectives: The purpose of the study is to observe how thoracic manipulation methods and core exercises affect the balance and body type. Methods/Statistical analysis: The subjects were 20 patients diagnosed with scoliosis and without a medical history of neurological and surgical problems in their thoracic spine. The BT4 and Formetric 4D were used to check the balance and posture of the patients. Data management and analysis were performed using the SPSS 20.0 version software. The paired T-test was conducted to compare the exercise group and the manipulation group. All statistical tests were carried out at the level of significance of 0.05. Findings: Significant changes within the core exercise (CE) group were observed in forward, rearward, and sagittal imbalance. In the manipulation (MP) group, only the forward imbalance was noticeably affected. The differences between the two groups were only notably different with regard to forward imbalance. Improvements/Applications: The statistical analysis showed notable differences in the change of equilibrium and body type through core exercises and manipulation. These results could be useful in future studies in related research.