Effects of Stair Climbing on Blood Pressure, Lipid Profiles, and Physical Fitness / 대한스포츠의학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to identify the effects of worker's stair-climbing on blood pressure, lipid profiles, and physical fitness. METHODS: After recruiting 114 healthy adult women aged 20 to 64 years who have had sedentary for more than 3 months, we divided into two groups: the stair group (SG, n=57) and control group (CG, n=57). SG was supposed to do stair-climbing in daily life like workplace and home for 12 weeks. To investigate the effects of the lifestyle changing of stair-climbing, resting blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and lipid profiles were measured before and after 12-week stair-climbing. Also, physical fitness items such as peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), back muscle strength, sit and reach, isokinetic strength of knee joint, static and dynamic balance were measured. RESULTS: As a result of the 12-week lifestyle changing of stair-climbing, resting systolic blood pressure (SBP; p < 0.05) and HR (p < 0.01) were significantly decreased in SG. Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was significantly reduced in SG (p < 0.05). There was a significant improvement in the VO2peak (p < 0.001). There were a significant improvement in back strength (p < 0.001) and bilateral knee extensor (60°/sec: p < 0.05, p < 0.01, 180°/sec: p < 0.01, p < 0.01) and knee flexor (180°/sec: p < 0.01, p < 0.05) of isokinetic strength. There were significant improvements in static balance of one leg standing eye-closed (p < 0.05) and dynamic balance of left/right velocity (p < 0.01), forward/backward velocity (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In this study, 12 weeks of lifestyle changing of stair-climbing improved SBP, resting HR, LDL-C, VO2peak, back and knee strength, static and dynamic balance as well as increased physical activity volume of stair-climbing in the daily living.

Short-term Comparison of Supervised Rehabilitation and Home-based Rehabilitation for Earlier Recovery of Shoulder Motion, Pain, and Function after Rotator Cuff Repair

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to compare the outcome of supervised and home exercises with respect to range of motion (ROM), pain, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE). We further correlated the ROM recovery and pain reduction as well. METHODS: The study included 49 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Rehabilitation was initiated after 4 weeks of immobilization. A total of 29 patients performed supervised exercise 3 times a week. Standardized education and brochures for review were provided to the remaining 20 patients who insisted on home rehabilitation. Statistical analysis was performed for comparing pain Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), SANE, and ROM. In addition, we also evaluated the correlation between pain and ROM. RESULTS: Comparison of the two groups revealed no significant differences in forward flexion, internal rotation, abduction, and pain NRS. However, SANE at the 9th week (63.8 vs. 55.0, p=0.038) and improvement of external rotation from the 5th to the 9th week (17.6 vs. 9.3, p=0.018) were significantly higher in the supervised exercise group as compared to the home exercise group. Correlation of pain NRS with forward flexion, external rotation, internal rotation and abduction were statistically not significant (correlation coefficient=0.032 [p=0.828], −0.255 [p=0.077], 0.068 [p=0.642], and −0.188 [p=0.196], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The supervised rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair showed better improvement in external rotation and higher SANE score after 4 weeks of rehabilitation exercise. However, no statistically significant correlation was observed between the recovery of ROM and short-term pain relief.

Long Term Effect of Custom-Molded Foot Orthoses on Foot Pain and Balance in Children with Symptomatic Flexible Flat Feet

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long termeffect of custom-molded foot orthoses on foot pain and balance ability in children with symptomatic flexible flat feet after 1 year.METHOD: A total of 35 children over 6 year-old with flexible flat feet and foot pain for at least 6 months were recruited. Individual custom-molded rigid foot orthoses fabricated with the inverted orthotic technique was prescribed. Pain related parameters (pain sites, degree, and frequency) were obtained through questionnaires. Pain assessment was performed prior to application of the foot orthoses, and 1, 3, 6, 12 months after applying the orthoses. Balance ability was tested by computerized posturography. Such measures were evaluated prior to, 3 months, and 12 months after applying the foot orthoses. Additionally, the difference inbalance ability between barefoot and withfoot orthosesat 12 months was assessed to estimate carryover effect.RESULTS: 17 out of 35 children completed the study. Significant improvements were noted upto 12 months in pain parameters and balance ability. The carry over effect of the orthoses was confirmed.CONCLUSION: There were significant improvements offoot pain and balance ability in children with symptomatic flexible flat foot after wearing foot orthoses fabricated with the inverted orthotic technique over 1year period.

Effect of Foot Orthoses on Children With Lower Extremity Growing Pains

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of custom molded foot orthoses on children with growing pains of the lower extremities. METHODS: Children with growing pains were recruited during a clinic visit. None had any bony deformities, inflammatory joint disease or depression. Resting calcaneal stance position (RCSP) and calcaneal pitch angle were measured, and individual custom molded rigid foot orthoses were prescribed using the inverted orthotic technique to control for foot overpronation using the RCSP angle. Pain sites, degree and frequency of pain, and balance ability were evaluated using Balance Master computerized posturography prior to foot orthosis fitting, and 1 and 3 months later. RESULTS: Twenty children completed the study. Seventeen (75%) had overpronated feet. Significant improvements were noted after 1 and 3 months in pain degree and frequency, and after 3 months in balancing ability. CONCLUSION: The use of custom molded foot orthoses is a good method for treating children with multiple musculoskeletal pains in the leg.

Effect of Custom-Molded Foot Orthoses on Foot Pain and Balance in Children With Symptomatic Flexible Flat Feet

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of custom-molded foot orthoses on foot pain and balance in children with symptomatic flexible flat foot 1 month and 3 months after fitting foot orthosis. METHOD: A total of 24 children over 6 years old with flexible flat feet and foot pain for at least 6 months were recruited for this study. Their resting calcaneal stance position and calcaneal pitch angle were measured. Individual custom-molded rigid foot orthoses were prescribed using inverted orthotic technique to control foot overpronation. Pain questionnaire was used to obtain pain sites, degree, and frequency. Balancing ability was determined using computerized posturography. These evaluations were performed prior to custom-molded foot orthoses, 1 month, and 3 months after fitting foot orthoses. RESULT: Of 24 children with symptomatic flexible flat feet recruited for this study, 20 completed the study. Significant (p<0.001) improvements in pain degree and frequency were noted after 1 and 3 months of custom-molded foot orthoses. In addition, significant (p<0.05) improvement in balancing ability was found after 3 months of custom-molded foot orthoses. CONCLUSION: Short-term use of custom-molded foot orthoses significantly improved foot pain and balancing ability in children with symptomatic flexible flat foot.

The Effect of the Combined Stretching and Strengthening Exercise on the Clinical Symptoms in Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction Patient / 대한족부족관절학회지

PURPOSE: The isolated exercise therapy and its effect for the treatment of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) is not well known. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical effect of stretching and strengthening exercise program on the patients' muscle function and range of motion, pain and gait in the management of the early stage PTTD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2006 to March 2007, 14 patients with early stage PTTD (stage I or IIa) without surgical intervention were randomly assigned into two groups and we analyzed their clinical results. All patients were female and one who have sprained the same ankle during the program and one who withdrew from the program due to her private reason were excluded. At the last, the exercise group (EG) was seven and the control group (CG) was five. Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of pain, ROM, muscle power, AOFAS score and 5 minute walking test of both groups. Wilcoxon-signed rank test was used for the comparison between the pre and post exercise program in EG. RESULTS: The pain was significantly reduced in EG compare to CG and only the dorsiflexion was significantly increased in EG in the analysis of ROM. The dorsi flexion and plantar flexion power were significantly increased in EG. CONCLUSION: Our 6 weeks stretching and strengthening exercise program showed noticeably improved clinical result, and therefore it is recommended as one of the useful treatment option in the management of early stage PTTD.