• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.239-252
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• 2011

Objectives : To investigate and compare the curvature of the cervical spine for the neck pain patients and asymptomatic participants. Methods : Clinical study was carried out for 64 neck pain patients in Conmaul oriental hospital and 56 asymptomatic volunteers. Cervical spine curvature was measured by 7 types of measuring methods. Results : Curvature angles of the cervical spine were significantly lower in the patients group(p<0.05). In segmental analysis of curvature, segmental curvature of C3-C4 were significantly lower in the patients group. There is no significant relationship among the classifications by the types of cervical spine curvature in the 2 groups. Conclusions : The results suggest that the cervical spines of neck pain patients are straightened and kyphotic and most of cervical curvature decrease are occurred at middle cervical spine.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.83-92
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• 2015

Objectives To measure and analyze the curvature of the cervical spine for university students. Methods This study carried out on 132 students. The cervical spine curvature was measured by six measuring methods. The type and numeric value of cervical spine curvature was analyzed by Angle of cervical curve (C1~C7), Angle of cervical curve (C2~C7), Jackson's angle, Ishihara Index, Depth of cervical curve and Method of Jochumsen. Cervical spine curvatures between male and female are compared by Mann-Whitney test. Rate of type of cervical curvature between male and female are compared by linear by linear association. Results 1. The average of angle of cervical curve (C1~C7) is $33.78{\pm}9.85^{\circ}$, angle of cervical curve (C2~C7) is $10.28{\pm}8.12^{\circ}$. The average of Jackson's angle is $14.02{\pm}10.01^{\circ}$, average of Ishihara Index is $8.46{\pm}10.58%$. The average of Depth of cervical curve is $5.15{\pm}4.72mm$ and average of Method of Jochumsen is $0.94{\pm}3.83mm$. 2. More than half of student's cervical curvature showed hypolordosis except Ishihara index. 3. There was significant difference in numeric value of cervical curvature between male and female both groups in terms of Ishihara index. 4. There were insignificant differences between male and female in terms of type of cervical curvature. Conclusions According to above results, we found out average of student's cervical curve. And the results suggest that most of the student's cervical curvature decrease.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.37-51
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• 2017

Objectives This study was designed to identify the effect of acupuncture combined with wooden neck pillow self-exercise program (WSP). Methods 25 eligible subjects with chronic neck pain were recruited from September 2015 to August 2016. Subjects were treated by acupuncture twice a week for 4 weeks, also were educated WSP and exercised every day for 4 weeks. They were assessed using PI-NRS, NDI and the maximum muscle strength of deep cervical flexor muscles (DCF) before and after treatment. Also the Cobb's angle (C1-C7), Ishihara index, Park method were assessed for evaluating the radiographical changes. Variables were compared using paired t-test. And correlates analysis was used for analyzing relationship between differentials in the maximum muscle strength of DCF and differentials in cervical spine curvature measurement methods. Results Among the 25 subjects, 4 subjects were lost to follow-up or excluded in accordance with the criteria. Significant differences on NRS, NDI and the maximum muscle strength of DCF were seen after treatment (p<0.001). In radiological finding, cervical spine curvature measurement methods were significantly increased (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.05). Differentials in the maximum muscle strength of DCF significantly correlates to differentials in Ishihara index (R=0.479, p<0.05). Conclusions Acupuncture combined with WSP may decrease neck pain intensity and associated disability, and also increase the muscle strength of DCF and cervical lordosis, in patients with chronic neck pain. Especially, Improving the muscle strength of DCF has a relationship with improving Ishihara index. However, due to the design of this study, this treatment can not be compared with other treatments. Future randomized project should be needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2014

Objective : Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is often complicated by subsidence, pseudoarthrosis, kyphosis, and graft donor site morbidities. To decrease the occurrence of these complications, various types of cages have been developed. We designed this retrospective study to analyze and compare the efficacy and outcomes of ACDF using double cylindrical cages (DCC) (BK Medical, Seoul, Korea) versus an anterior cervical plating system with autogenous iliac crest grafts. Methods : Forty-eight patients were treated with autograft and plating (plate group), and 48 with DCC group from October 2007 to October 2011. We analyzed construct length, cervical lordotic curvarture, the thickness of the prevertebral soft tissue, segmental instability, and clinical outcomes. Results : There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the decrease in construct length or cervical lodortic curvature at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. The prevertebral soft tissue was thinner in the DCC group than the plate group immediately after surgery and at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. The difference in interspinous distance on flexion-extension was shorter in the plate group than the DCC group at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. However, there was no significant difference in this distance between the two groups at the 12-month follow-up. Conclusion : A double cylindrical cage is a good alternative for fusion in patients with cervical degenerative diseases; the surgical method is relatively simple, allows good synostosis, has less associated prevertebral soft tissue swelling, and complications associated with autografting can be avoided.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.141-145
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• 2018

Purpose: Changes in the curvature of the vertebral columns of elderly women with increasing age causes various side effects and disorders. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the 8-figure scapular brace to improve pulmonary function and balance ability based on lung capacity and foot pressure by increasing the vertebral curvature. Methods: Seventeen elderly women with a forward head posture were selected. Women were asked to wear the 8-figure scapular brace and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured, as were changes in foot pressure. Measurements were conducted three times each and the mean values were used for subsequent analyses. For static evaluation, we used the paired t-test to identify differences between pre and post values. Results: There was no significant difference in FEV1 and FVC before and after use of the brace (p>0.05); however, there was a significant decrease in forefoot pressure and an increase in rearfoot pressure following application of the brace (p<0.05). Conclusion: Application of the 8-figure scapular brace to correct vertebral curvature in elderly women influenced pressure distribution change from immediate effect body arrange of cervical and thoracic. However, wearing the 8-figure scapular brace may interfere with expansion of the chest and therefore respiratory muscle activity. Accordingly, it is necessary to apply appropriate treatment when wearing a scapular brace and to allow a sufficient intervention period while also providing therapeutic interventions such as posture correction or respiration training.