[Purpose] The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Nordic pole walking on the electromyographic activities of upper extremity and lower extremity muscles. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were randomly divided into two groups as follows: without Nordic pole walking group (n=13) and with Nordic pole walking group (n=13). The EMG data were collected by measurement while the subjects walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes by measuring from one heel strike to the next. [Results] Both the average values and maximum values of the muscle activity of the upper extremity increased in both the group that used Nordic poles and the group that did not use Nordic poles, and the values showed statistically significant differences. There was an increase in the average value for muscle activity of the latissimus dorsi, but the difference was not statistically significant, although there was a statistically significant increase in its maximum value. The average and maximum values for muscle activity of the lower extremity did not show large differences in either group, and the values did not show any statistically significant differences. [Conclusion] The use of Nordic poles by increased muscle activity of the upper extremity compared with regular walking but did not affect the lower extremity.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of modified cervical exercise and determine whether such exercise improves the range of motion of the cervical movement in smartphone users with forward head posture. [Subjects and Methods] Some 32 subjects with forward head posture participated in this study. They were randomly allocated to three groups, and the modified cervical exercises were performed either once, twice, or three times per day. The exercise program was followed for four weeks and then the joint range of motion of the participants was measured. [Results] A significantly increased range of motion was seen in all three groups that performed the modified cervical exercises. The analysis of the effects among the three groups indicated that the greatest effect was seen in Group C, members of which performed the modified exercises three times per day. In addition, a significant difference was found between Group A and Group C in terms of the inter-group results. [Conclusion] According to the results of this study, although the modified cervical exercises were performed for only a relatively short duration (four weeks), the exercises brought about an improvement in the forward head posture that was induced by using a smartphone.

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to verify a new method for improving respiratory functions by applying both abdominal stimulation and inspiratory muscle training (IMT) to train the inspiratory muscle and the expiratory muscle simultaneously, to improve the efficiency of IMT of chronic stroke patients. [Subjects] Eighteen stroke patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 9) and a control group (n = 9). [Methods] The experimental group was administered IMT with abdominal stimulation, and the control group was administered only IMT. During the intervention period, the experimental group and control group received training 20 min/day, 3 times/wk, for 4 weeks. To examine the lung functions of the subjects, FVC, FEV1, PEF, and FEF25–75 were measured using an electronic spirometer. The diaphragm thickness ratio was calculated from measurements made with a 7.5-MHz linear probe ultrasonic imaging system. [Result] The experimental group and the control group showed significant increases in diaphragm thickness ratio on the paretic side, but not on the non-paretic side. With regard to lung function, the experimental group showed significant increases in FEV1, PEF, and FEF25–75. The changes between before and after the intervention in the two groups were compared with each other, and the results showed significant differences in FEV1 and PEF. [Conclusion] The present study identified that IMT accompanied by abdominal stimulation improved the pulmonary function of chronic stroke patients.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the carpal tunnels and median nerves appearing due to frequent movements of fingers by ultrasonography in young adults who frequently use smartphones.[Subjects] The subjects of this study were 20 young male and female adults who had no limitation in the range of movement of neck, shoulder, and arm joints, musculoskeletal disorder of the arm, or neurological symptoms such as paraesthesia and agreed to participate in the study.[Methods] The subjects who agreed to participate in this study were asked to use a smartphone for 30 minutes while maintaining comfortable sitting postures on a chair. They were asked to maintain the position of their shoulders comfortably while maintaining an angle of around 90° at the elbow. Some values measured before and after the experiment using a smartphone for 30 minutes were compared. The carpal tunnel was measured using ultrasonography.[Results] There were significant differences in median nerve circumference length, area of the median nerve area, distance between the highest point of the median nerve to the lunate, and distance between the bottom point of the median nerve to the lunate between before and after the experiment(p<0.05). [Conclusion] In conclusion, the use of smartphones for too long can be considered to adversely affect the wrist, and continued use can be considered to induce muscle fatigue.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of calf muscle massage on ankle flexibility and balance. [Subjects and Methods] The study’s subjects were 32 healthy college students, divided into two groups according to the massage methods applied. Both groups received five-minutes of massage to each calf, making a total of ten minutes. Massage group A received effleurage, tapotement and pressure, and massage group B received effleurage, friction and petrissage. The functional reaching test and the modified one leg standing test were performed to measure the flexibility and balance of the ankles both before and after the massage application. [Results] In the functional reaching test performed after the calf muscle massage intervention, both groups showed significant increases. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups. In the modified one leg standing test, massage group A showed a significant increase in flexibility and balance after the intervention only when the left foot was used for support. Massage group B showed a significant increase when each foot was used for support. A significant difference between the groups was only observed only when the left foot was used for support. [Conclusion] Calf muscle massage may be effective for enhancing the flexibility and balance function of the ankle joint. In particular, a combined application of friction and petrissage massage techniques may be more effective for increasing ankle joint flexibility. Therefore, the application of calf massage can be considered an appropriate method for improving balancing ability.