Abstract. [Purpose] In order to develop a more effective treatment method for pain and function in myofascial pain syndrome, we examined the effects of ESWT, stability exercises, and combined treatment.[Subjects] The subjects were randomly divided into a stabilization exercise group (n=12), an ESWT (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy) group (n=12), and a combined treatment group (n=12).[Methods] The stabilization exercise group performed shoulder joint stabilization exercises. The ESWT group received ESWT for the upper trapezius. The combined treatment group received a combined treatment of shoulder joint stabilization exercises and ESWT. Pain and function were measured using the visual analog scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), neck disability index (NDI), and the Constant Murley Scale (CMS).[Results] The VAS Score showed statistically significant improvements in all of the groups. All of the CMS evaluation items except muscle strength in the stabilization exercise group, and all of the CMS items in the ESWT group and the combined treatment group, exhibited statistically significant improvements. The combined treatment group of ESWT and stabilization exercises showed statistically significant improvements in all VAS of CMS evaluation items, and the NDI test after the four-week intervention.[Conclusion] The combined treatment was more effective at reducing pain than ESWT, and stabilization exercise would be useful for physical therapists treating myofascial pain syndrome in a clinical setting.

[Purpose] This study aimed to conduct thoracic and cervical mobilization in stroke patients and determine its effects on respiratory function. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-one stroke patients were studied. Subjects were divided into a control group (control group, n=11) who did not undergo thoracic and cervical joint mobilization, and an experimental group (thoracic and cervical mobilization group, n=10) who underwent thoracic and cervical joint mobilization. Forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in the first second, well-known indicators of respiratory capabilities, were measured. Peak cough flow was measured as an indicator of cough capability. [Results] After the exercise, respiratory function in the thoracic and cervical mobilization group showed statistically significant improvements demonstrated by increases in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the first second, and peak cough flow. [Conclusion] The findings indicate that thoracic and cervical mobilization can improve the thoracic movements of stroke patients resulting in improved pulmonary function.

Damage to lower limb muscles requires accurate analysis of the muscular condition via objective microscopic diagnosis. However, microscopic tissue analysis may cause deformation of the tissue structure due to injury induced by external factors during tissue sectioning. to substantiate these muscle injuries, we used synchrotron X-ray imaging technology to project extremely small objects, provide three-dimensional microstructural analysis as extracted samples. in this study, we used mice as experimental animals to create soleus muscle models with various nerve injuries. We morphologically analyzed and quantified the damaged Section and Crush muscles, respectively, via three-dimensional visualization using synchrotron radiation X-ray imaging to diagnose muscle injury. Results of this study can also be used as basic data in the medical imaging field.

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[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of treadmill training on functional recovery by analyzing the ankle joint as well as the knee and hip joints with 2D video analysis during gait by rats with sciatic nerve injury. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. The sham group (SG) received only a sham operation without any sciatic injury; the training group (TG) performed treadmill training for 4 weeks after sciatic injury; and the control group (CG) wasn’t provided with any therapeutic intervention after sciatic injury. [Results] The ankle, knee, and hip ROM of TG and CG during the initial, mid stance, and toe-off phases of gait at post-test were significantly different from SG. [Conclusion] Physical exercise, like treadmill training, is beneficial for the improvement of the ankle, knee and hip joints of rats with crushed sciatic nerve injury.