The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of abdominal muscle strengthening training (AMST) using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on pulmonary function, pain, and functional disability index in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients. Thirty CLBP patients were randomly assigned to the traditional physical therapy (control) group (n=15) and PNF-AMST group (n=15). Forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) was measured to measure changes in pulmonary function. To measure the degree of pain, a visual analog scale (VAS) was used. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to assess the disability level due to low back pain. A paired t-test was performed to compare differences within the groups before and after intervention. An independent t-test was performed to compare differences between the test and control groups. The level of significance was set at α=0.05. Within-group changes in FEV1 were significantly different in the experimental group (P<0.01), and those in VAS and ODI were significantly different in both groups (both P<0.01). The improvements in FEV1, VAS, and ODI were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.01). This study showed that AMST using PNF was effective in enhancing pulmonary function and decreasing pain and functional disability index inpatients with CLBP. We expect it to be useful as one of the programs for CLBP patients in the future.

The elastic-taping method of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) concept is nonexistent. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the effect of treadmill training (TT) using PNF lower-leg taping (PNFLT) on walking and balance ability in patients with stroke. There were a total of 27 patients: a stroke allocated control group (n=13) and an experimental group (n=14). The control group performed the TT and the experimental group performed the TT using PNF taping five times a week for 6 weeks. Walking and balance ability were measured using the 6-min walk test (6MWT), the 10-m walking test (10MWT), and the timed up and go test (TUG). Before and after the intervention, a paired t-test was performed to compare different within-group differences. Independent t-tests were performed to compare different between-group differences. All statistical significance levels were set at α of 0.05. After intervention, 6MWT, 10MWT and TUG improved significantly in PNFLT-TT and TT group (P<0.01). After intervention, the PNFLT-TT group showed more effective changes that the TT group in 6MWT, 10MWT, and TUG (P<0.05 and <0.01) between PNFLT-TT and TT group. The intervention of PNFLT-TT was effective in improving walking and balance ability in patients with stroke. Basic elastic tape for the PNF concept and TT may be useful interventions as a program to improve walking and balance ability in patients with stroke.

Approximately 90% of low back pain (LBP) diagnoses are non-specific (NSLBP; i.e. with unknown cause). In NSLBP patients, the hamstrings, iliopsoas, piriformis, and tensor fasciae latae are overactive due to weak hip abductor, extensor, and core muscles. Core stability is essential for proper load balance within the pelvis, spine, and kinetic chain, and core stability exercise (CSE) is an exercise treatment regimen for LBP conditions. We investigated how core stability and hip muscle stretching exercises affected NSLBP patients' physical function and activity. Patients were randomly allocated to three groups. The Stretch group (n = 24) performed exercises for hip muscle stretching for maximal motion; the Strengthen group (n = 22) performed exercises for hip muscle strengthening while maintaining the maximal isometric contraction. The Sham group (n = 20) received gentle palpation of the skin. Therapy was conducted thrice weekly for 6 weeks. Pain intensity, lower back instability, and hip muscle flexibility were measured to assess physical function. Disability level, balance ability, and quality of life were measured to assess physical activity. Data were collected prior to intervention and at 6-week follow-up. There were significant within-group changes for all measurements (P < 0.05). The Stretch and Strengthen groups had greater improvements in pain intensity, disability level, balance ability, and quality of life than the Sham group. Lower back instability and hip muscle flexibility had the greatest improvement in the Stretch group. In conclusion, CSE and hip muscle stretching are effective at improving physical function and activity in NSLBP patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diaphragm and deep abdominal muscle exercise (DDAME) on walking ability (WA) and balance ability (BA) in subjects with hemiplegia due to stroke. Study subjects consisted of twenty patients diagnosed with hemiplegia due to stroke. They were randomized into a control group (CG) (n=10) that performed traditional exercise and an experimental group (EG) (n=10) that performed DDAME. The WA was measured using the 10-m walking test (10MWT) and 6-min walk test (6MWT). The BA was measured using the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and Berg’s balance scale (BBS). Paired t-test was performed to compare differences within the groups before and after intervention. The analysis of covariance was performed to compare the differences between the EG and CG. The level of significance was set at α=0.05. Within-group changes in 10MWT and 6MWT were significantly different in both the EG (P<0.05) and CG (P<0.05). There was significantly more improvement in the 10MWT and 6MWT in the EG than in the CG (P<0.05). Within-group changes in TUG and BBS were significantly different in both the EG (P<0.05) and the CG (P<0.05). There was significantly more improvement in TUG and BBS in the EG than in the CG (P<0.05). DDAME program, with diaphragm and inspiratory muscle strengthening exercises, is needed for patients experiencing difficulty in WA, BA, trunk asymmetry, abnormal alignment, mobility of trunk muscles, power, or endurance decline.

| Abstract |Purpose: This study investigates how abdominal muscular exercise based on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) can affect chronic low back pain patients in terms of their pulmonary function, pain, and functional disability indexes. Methods:Fourteen target subjects with chronic low back were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 7) that performed abdominal muscle exercises and the experimental group (n = 7) that performed PNF abdominal muscular exercises. The exercises were performed five times a week for six weeks. To check the change in pulmonary function, the forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) and visible analogue scale (VAS) were measured to check the pain level. The disability level caused by back pain was measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). A paired t-test was applied to compare the differences between the groups before and after the intervention, and an independent t-test was used to compare the differences between the groups. The level of statistical significance was set as α = 0.05.Results: Before and after the intervention, the experimental group showed a significant change in FEV1 (p < 0.01), and both the experimental and the control groups showed significant changes in VAS and ODI (p < 0.01). A comparison of the differences between the groups indicated that the experimental group showed more significant changes in FEV1 (p < 0.05). Conclusion:According to the study results, PNF abdominal muscular exercise effectively improved pulmonary function, pain, and functional disability indexes in subjects with chronic back pain. The proposed program can be applied to chronic back pain patients as a useful therapy. †Corresponding Author : Beom-Ryong Kim (kimbr21@hanmail.net) PNF and Movement, 2016; 14(3): 185-193 https://doi

This study investigated effects of deep abdominal muscle strengthening exercises on pulmonary function and the ability to balance in stroke patients and was conducted to propose an exercise program for improving cardiovascular function. Methods: Study subjects were 20 patients with hemiplegia due to stroke, who were divided into the deep abdominal muscle strengthening exercise group (experimental group), 10, and the control group, 10. Pulmonary function tests measured FVC and FEV1, dynamic balance ability was measured using TUG. Static and dynamic balance ability was measured using BBS. The experimental group performed exercises during a period of 6 weeks, 5 times a week for 40 minutes, whereas the control group did not participate in regular exercise. The difference before and after the exercise was compared using paired t-test, difference in exercise before and after between groups was ANCOVA and level of significance was set at α= 0.05. Results: The changes in FVC and FEV1 within the group showed a significant difference only in the experimental group (p < 0.001) (p< 0.01), between-group difference was statistically significant only in FVC and FEV1 changes in the experimental group (p< 0.001). The TUG changes within the group showed a significant difference in the experimental group and control group (p< 0.001) (p< 0.05), while BBS changes showed a significant difference only in the experimental group. Between-group difference was statistically significant only in TUG and BBS changes in the experimental group. The experimental group showed a more effective significant difference than the control group (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Can exercise involving a deep abdominal muscle strengthening program be applied in patients with stroke with difficulty in control of trunk and decreased breathing ability?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance exercise in comparison with those of common exercise on chronic neck pain (CNP) to provide useful clinical guidelines for reducing pain or increasing cervical range of motion (ROM), upper trapezius tone, disability level, and quality of life (QOL). Methods: The subjects were randomized into a cervical and scapula-focused resistance exercise group (CSREG, n = 21) or trapezius massage group (TMG, n = 20). All groups received a 4-week, five times per week CSRE or TM program for CNP. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, cervical ROM, myotonometer measures (upper trapezius tone, stiffness, and elasticity), neck disability index (NDI), and short form-36 (SF-36) were identified as the primary outcomes. Results: Within-group changes in VAS, cervical ROM, myotonometer measures, NDI, and SF-36 were significant in the CSREG and TMG ( P < .05). The between-group changes in VAS, cervical rotation, myotonometer (upper trapezius tone and stiffness), NDI, and SF-36 after intervention showed significant differences between the CSREG and TMG ( P < .05). Conclusion: These results suggest that the CSRE program is effective in improving pain, cervical ROM, upper trapezius tone, disability level, and QOL in patients with CNP. More comprehensive studies with longer follow-up durations are needed to better understand the potential effects of the CSRE program in patients with CNP.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of taping intervention in patients with stroke through a review analysis of taping interventions used to enhance physical function and activity in patients with stroke. We searched randomized controlled trials using electronic databases. We also manually reviewed sources to identify additional relevant studies. Taping intervention is an approach to treat individuals with impaired physical function and activity. Taping interventions affect body functions by providing increased muscle strength, proprioceptive sensation, and range of motion, as well as decreased rigidity and pain. Taping interventions also improve walking, balance and arm functions, such as physical activity. Taping intervention for patients with stroke has been shown to be highly effective and is therefore strongly recommended; however, it is suggested that it be further developed to improve its efficacy as an intervention method and to create additional taping methods. 서 론 뇌졸중은 뇌로 가는 혈관이 파열되거나 막혀 뇌의 기능장애를 일으 키는 질환으로, 1 이러한 뇌졸중 환자는 80% 이상에서 편마비를 보인 다. 2 이러한 편마비 환자는 어깨와 몸통을 연결해주는 앞톱니근(serratus anterior)의 약화가 두드러지게 나타나고, 3 근 수축 패턴이 바뀌 게 되어 어깨뼈의 운동학적 변화를 보이며, 4 몸통근육의 약화와 몸 통의 비대칭적인 근 활성도로 인해 자세조절의 저하가 나타난다. 5,6 테이핑은 비침습적, 비약물적인 방법으로 부작용이 적고 부착한 상태에서도 일상생활에 불편함이 없으며, 7 다른 중재방법과 병행하 여 적용이 가능하여 임상에서 근골격계 환자뿐만 아니라 뇌졸중과 같은 신경계 환자의 신체기능과 활동의 향상을 위해 적용되고 있다. 8 테이핑의 종류에는 관절을 고정하고 신체부위를 압박하여 가동범위 를 제한하여 불안정한 신체부위에 안정성을 증가시킬 수 있는 비탄 성 테이프와 탄력과 길이의 변화를 조절할 수 있는 테이프로 적용 부 위의 움직임에 따라 늘어나고 줄어드는 탄성 테이프가 있다. 탄성 테 이프는 모든 신체부위에 다양하게 적용할 수 있는 장점을 가지고 있 다. 특히 근육의 수축과 이완이 큰 부위에 비탄성테이프를 적용하면 혈관이나 신경을 압박하여 신경이나 혈관 장애를 일으킬 우려가 있 는 경우에 사용된다. 탄성 테이핑 부착 시 나타나는 일반적인 효과는 혈액과 림프순환 증진, 통증 감소, 신경학적 기능증진, 근육 불균형 감소, 고유수용감각 증진, 피부수용기 자극을 통한 근육 흥분성 증 진이 있고, 9 근 피로를 감소시키며, 10 뇌졸중 환자에게 적용할 경우 근 력과 기능적인 활동에 개선을 보인다. 11,12 뇌졸중 환자에게 탄성 테이핑을 적용한 선행연구들을 살펴보면, Kim 등 13 팔 기능에 어려움이 있는 뇌졸중 환자의 어깨와 몸통에 테 이핑을 적용하여 팔 기능에 유의한 향상을 보고하였고, 손상측 팔의 근육군에 적용한 연구에선 팔 기능 향상과 통증 및 우울의 감소를 보고하였다. 14 또한, Park과 Cho 15 는 비 손상측에 몸통 교정 테이핑과 어깨뼈 설정 운동을 실시한 결과 팔 기능의 향상을 보고하였고, Oh 등 16 은 뇌졸중 환자의 무릎에 나선형 관절 테이핑과 넙다리네갈래근 테이핑을 적용한 결과 균형능력에 증가를 보였다. 이와 같이 뇌졸중 환자의 신체기능과 활동의 향상을 위해 다양한 탄성 테이핑 방법이 사용됨에도 불구하고 뇌졸중 환자에 대한 명확 한 탄성 테이핑의 효과를 제시하지 못하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 뇌졸중 환자에게 적용된 탄성 테이핑에 대한 연구들의 분석을 통해 뇌졸중 환자에 대한 탄성 테이핑의 효과를 조사하는 데 목표를 두었 고, 탄성 테이핑의 효과를 고찰하여 뇌졸중 환자의 중재프로그램 마 련을 위한 기초자료를 제공하고자 본 연구를 시도하였다.This is an Open Access article distribute under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License (Http:// creativecommons.org/license/by-nc/4.0.) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution,and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.