Abstract. [Purpose] This study investigated the effects and safety of whole body cryotherapy (WBC) and spinal decompression on the pain, cervical function, and body surface temperature of cervical herniated nucleus pulposus (C-HNP) patients.[Subjects] The subjects were 20 patients (6 males and 14 females) with cervical disc herniation (C 5-6 ) who visited Hospital S in Daejeon, Korea.[Methods] Treatment Group 1 (3 males and 7 females) received interference current therapy, ultrasonic therapy, spinal decompression therapy, and WBC. Treatment Group 2 (2 males and 8 females) received interference current therapy, ultrasonic therapy, and spinal decompression therapy. [Results] Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and differences in body surface temperatures between left and right upper extremity muscles decreased after treatment compared to prior to treatment. The group receiving spinal decompression and WBC application had a greater degree of change in VAS and NDI. However, change of body surface temperatures of the upper extremities after treatment between the two treatment groups was not statisticaly significant.[Conclusion] A combination of spinal decompression therapy and WBC offers a safe and appropriate treatment for cervical disc herniation.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate how older adults adjust gait patterns when stepping over a ground-based obstacle under two different lighting conditions. [Subjects] A total of 10 communitydwelling healthy older adults (mean age, 67.9 ± 2.12 years; age range, 65-72 years) were enrolled in this study.[Methods] All participants stood quietly in a self-selected foot position on the floor. Each participant was then instructed to step over a 10 cm high wooden obstacle under two illumination conditions (1 and 200 lx) at a selfselected pace with the right leg in response to the verbal cue "GO", and continued walking with the left leg on a 5 m pathway. Toe clearances and step parameters were measured using an eight-camera motion analysis system.[Results] Under the low lighting condition, toe clearance of the trailing leg was significantly lower than under the normal lighting condition. However, no significant differences were observed in toe clearance of the lead leg, step velocity, stride length, step length, cadence, or swing/stance duration between the normal and low lighting conditions.[Conclusion] Older adults reduce toe clearance of the trailing leg under low lighting conditions while stepping over an obstacle, which places them at greater risk of falling.

Abstract.[Purpose] We attempted to examine the range of motion (rotation, flexion and extension) of the neck and forward head posture in patients with a cervical herniated nucleus pulposus (C-HNP) and in normal persons through radiometry; and examined the correlations between the ranges of these motions and C-HNP.[Subjects] The study subjects were 15 patients with C-HNP at level 5 or 6 (C5-6, (males=5, females=10) and 15 normal persons (males=5, females=10). [Methods] We analyzed the degree of cervical lordosis of patients with C-HNP at C5-6 and normal adults and compared them using radiographs of their lateral views. We observed the absolute rotation angles (ARA), anterior weight bearings (AWB) and ranges of flexion and extension motion (RFEM).[Results] The results indicated that as ARA increased, AWB decreased and RFEM increased. In particular, we confirmed that as AWB increased, RFEM decreased. [Conclusion] This study identified a remarkably decreased range of cervical motion in patients with C-HNP compared to normal persons, along with misalignments of the cervical spine due to from increased forward head posture.

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Abstract. [Purpose] This study was conducted to examine the degree of lumbar lordosis, L 4-5 disc angle, L 4-5 disc height and the lumbosacral angle in L 4-5 herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) patients and analyze the correlations between these variables to examine the relationship between HNP and abnormal sagittal spinal alignment.[Subjects] The study subjects were 15 lumbar spine 4-5 (L 4-5 ) HNP patients; the control group comprised 15 normal adults. [Methods] Both groups' magnetic resonance imaging scans were compared and analyzed.[Results] The HNP group showed a significantly smaller degree of lumbar lordosis, L 4-5 disc angle, L 4-5 disc height, and lumbosacral angle (p<0.05). I was also shown that as the degree of lumbar lordosis decreased, the disc angle, disc height, and lumbosacral angle decreased.[Conclusion] We found that L 4-5 HNP patients have abnormal sagittal spinal alignments.