Quantitative Analysis of Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Trapezius Muscle Using Pressure Algometer and Surface Electromyography

Purpose@#Myofascial syndrome is a chronic muscle pain caused by repetitive motions with stress-related muscle tension. This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the evidence for diagnosing myofascial pain syndrome in trapezius muscle using a pressure algometer and surface electromyography. @*Methods@#The experiments were performed using a total of 10 subjects, and the target locations were determined by means of a pressure algometer in the right upper trapezius muscle. The part with the lowest pain value as the trigger point and the part with the highest pain value as the non-pain trigger point were selected for measuring the locations. The median frequency and average frequency were measured in those locations with electromyography. To check the muscle fatigue, the upper trapezius muscle was moved up and down for 2 seconds at 5-second intervals in 30 seconds. The measured values were evaluated using the independent paired t-test and MannWhitney U-test. @*Results@#The median frequency at the non-trigger point (13.7) was significantly higher than that at the trigger point (7.3). Furthermore, the mean frequency (14.7) at the non-trigger point was significantly higher than that at the trigger point (6.3). @*Conclusion@#The results showed the correlations between the trigger points of the muscle pain and frequency analysis of surface electromyography. Thus, this study may be possible to use as a diagnostic tool for myofascial pain syndrome.

Comparison of EEG Changes Induced by Action Execution and Action Observation

PURPOSE: Recent electrophysiological studies have shown that the sensorymotor cortex is activated during both actual action excuted by themselves and observation of action performed by other persons. Observation of action based on mirror neuron system can be used as a cognitive intervention to promote motor learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the brain activity changes during action observation and action execution using EEG. METHODS: Thirty healthy volunteers participated and were requested to perform hand action and to observe the video of hand action performed by another person. The EEG activity was evaluated by a method which segregated the time-locked for each condition. To compare the differences between action observation and execution, the Mu suppression and the relative band power were analysed. RESULTS: The results showed significant mu suppression during the action observation and execution, but the differences between the two conditions were not observed. The relative band power showed a significant difference during the action observation and execution, but there were no differences between the two conditions. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that action execution and observation involve overlapping neural networks in the sensorymotor cortical areas, proposing positive changes on neurophysiology. We are expected to provide information related to the intervention of cognitive rehabilitation.

The Influence of Restricted Arm Swing on Symmetry, Movement of Trunk and Pelvis Rotation according to Using a Mobile Phone

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of variations in arm swing during gait on movement of the trunk and pelvis. During the gait task, the angle of the trunk and pelvic rotation were analyzed according to arm swing conditions. METHODS: Seventeen healthy males participated in this study. All subjects were analyzed for gait on a treadmill three times each under three different types of arm swing conditions – natural arm swing, restricted arm swing using a phone, restricted swing in both arms. 3-D motion analysis systems were used to collect and analyze the kinematic data of trunk and pelvic movements, and repeated one-way ANOVA was used to compare the trunk and pelvic kinematic data and symmetry index. The level of significance was α=0.05. RESULTS: The results showed kinematic differences in trunk and pelvic during gait based on the arm swing conditions. Specifically, there were significant differences in trunk rotation, left and right trunk rotation and symmetry index of trunk rotation during gait among the three arm swing conditions. ROM was used to calculate a symmetry index (SI) based on the average left and right trunk rotation in which a value closer to zero indicated better balance. The SI obtained for arm swing restricted with the phone was closer to –1 than the other conditions. CONCLUSION: Restricted arm swing due to use of a phone had the possibility to induce instability of postural control while walking, which could be seen to suggest a risk of falling during gait.

Effect of Trunk Side Shift Exercise on the Cobb's Angle of Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of trunk side shift exercise on the Cobb's angle. METHODS: Fifty-eight subjects (control group=30, scoliosis group=28) were enrolled in this study. The idiopathic scoliosis groups were divided randomly into two groups, a side shift exercise (SSE) group, and a trunk stabilization exercise (TSE) group. The SSE group performed side shift exercise on the developed chair training for eight weeks. The TSE group performed trunk stabilization exercise. A one-way ANOVA test was carried out to compare the results within the idiopathic scoliosis patient group before and after the exercises based on the different exercise methods. RESULTS: The Cobb's angles were compared among control group and SSE group and TSE group. As a result, there was a significant difference from SSE group and TSE group(p=0.000), but there were no significant differences between the SSE and TSE groups (p=0.085). CONCLUSION: Side shift exercises are effective in improving the Cobb's angle. Therefore, the use of the side shift exercise chair designed in this study can replace general exercise either at work or during studies. Therefore, this method is easily accessible for busy modern students who are exposed to scoliosis or spinal disorders due to a pattern of inactivity.

Review on Physical Therapy for Patients with Vestibular Disorder

Effort to improve balance ability in the field of rehabilitation has been constantly issued and developed up to now. A variety of subcomponent of postural control including function and cognition should be needed in many body systems and be complicatedly linked to each system. In South Korea, although decreased postural dysfunction due to neurological or musculoskeletal disorders has been well documented, we do not have many experience and knowledge of vestibular rehabilitation for maintain and improve balance function. In the United States, vestibular physical therapy is already acknowledged as clinical subspecialty by American Physical Therapy Association. However, there is no curriculum subject related to vestibular rehabilitation in standard education of physical therapy and no specialist who has clinical experience and knowledge of this realm. Therefore, we reviewed general information and basic knowledge of vestibular rehabilitation such as current state of vestibular disorder in South Korea, pathology, major causes of vestibular dysfunction including peripheral vestibular disorders, vestibular neuritis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and central disorder, evaluation of vestibular dysfunction, and treatment for vestibular dysfunction new approaches. We expect that physical therapist in South Korea recognize clinical significance of vestibular exercise and that clinical concern and research will be begun in near future.