The effects of visual feedback balance training on the pain and physical function of patients with chronic degenerative knee arthritis.

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effects of visual feedback balance training on the pain and dysfunction of patients with chronic degenerative knee arthritis. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-six patients with chronic degenerative knee arthritis participated in this study; the control group (n=13) performed muscle strength training and the experimental group (n=13) performed visual feedback balance training. General physical therapy was applied to both groups three times a week for eight weeks. The visual analog scale was used to measure the patient's pain scale, and the K-WOMAC (Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) was used as a tool to evaluate their physical function. [Results] In the intra-group comparisons, significant decreases in the visual analog scale and the K-WOMAC were observed for the control group and the experimental group. No significant difference was found in the inter-group comparisons after treatment. [Conclusion] Visual feedback balance training is considered to be an effective intervention method for improving pain and dysfunction in patients with chronic degenerative knee arthritis.

The effects of manual manipulation therapy on pain and dysfunction in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of manual manipulation therapy on the pain and dysfunction of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. [Participants and Methods] In this study, 30 patients with chronic back pain were evenly divided into an experimental group, who received manual traction therapy, and a control group, who received intermittent traction therapy. Both groups received therapy three times a week for eight weeks. A visual analogue scale was used to measure participants' back pain, and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) was used to check the functional impediment they experienced as a result. [Results] The intragroup comparison showed that the visual analog scale and the ODI significantly decreased in the control group and the experimental group, respectively. The intergroup comparison after treatment showed that the visual analog scale and the ODI of the experimental group were significantly lower than in the control group. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that manual manipulation therapy is an effective intervention for treating pain and dysfunction in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Effects of the flexion-distraction technique and drop technique on straight leg raising angle and intervertebral disc height of patients with an intervertebral disc herniation.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the flexion-distraction technique and drop technique on the straight leg raising angle and intervertebral disc height of patients with an intervertebral disc herniation. [Participants and Methods] Thirty patients with herniated intervertebral discs were divided into either an experimental group (n=15), who underwent flexion-distraction and drop techniques, or a control group (n=15), who obtained spinal decompression therapy. Both groups were treated three times per week for eight weeks. [Results] An intragroup comparison showed that the straight leg raising angle and the intervertebral disc height significantly increased in both groups. But it was not significantly difference in the intergroup comparison. [Conclusion] The flexion-distraction technique and the drop technique may serve as effective interventions for the straight leg raising angle and intervertebral disc height in patients with intervertebral disc herniations.

The impact of manual spinal traction therapy on the pain and Oswestry disability index of patients with chronic back pain.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of manual spinal traction therapy on the pain and Oswestry disability index of patients with chronic back pain. [Participants and Methods] In this study, 30 patients with chronic back pain were evenly divided into an experimental group 1, who received manual traction therapy, and an experimental group 2, who received intermittent traction therapy. Both groups received therapy three times a week for eight weeks. A visual analogue scale was used to measure participants' back pain, and the Oswestry disability index was used to check the functional impediment they experienced as a result. [Results] In a within-group comparison, visual analogue scale and Oswestry disability index significantly decreased in both the experimental 1 and experimental 2. In a between-group comparison after treatment, there was a significantly greater decrease in visual analogue scale and Oswestry disability index in the experimental group 1 compared to the experimental 2. [Conclusion] The manual spinal traction therapy was an effective intervention scheme for the treatment of pain and disorder in patients with chronic back pain.

Effects of high intensity laser therapy on pain and function of patients with chronic back pain.

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of High Intensity Laser Therapy on pain and function of patients with chronic back pain. [Subjects and Methods] This study evenly divided a total of 20 patients with chronic back pain into a conservative physical therapy group that received conservative physical therapy, and a high intensity laser therapy group that received High Intensity Laser Therapy after conservative physical therapy. All patients received the therapy three times a week for four weeks. For the high intensity laser therapy group, treatment was applied to the L1-L5 and S1 regions for 10 minutes by using a high intensity laser device while vertically maintaining the separation distance from handpiece to skin at approximately 1 cm. A visual analog scale was used to measure the pain and Oswestry Disability Index was used for functional evaluation. [Results] In a within-group comparison of the conservative physical therapy and high intensity laser therapy groups, both the visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index significantly decreased. In a between-group comparison after treatment, the high intensity laser therapy group showed a significantly lower visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index than the conservative physical therapy group. [Conclusion] High Intensity Laser Therapy can be an effective nonsurgical intervention method for reducing pain and helping the performance of daily routines of patients who have chronic back pain.

The effects of high intensity laser therapy on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of high intensity laser therapy (HILT) on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. [Subjects and Methods] In this study, an experiment was conducted on 20 subjects who were divided into the control group (n=10), which would receive conservative physical therapy (CPT), and the experimental group (n=10), which would receive effects of high intensity laser therapy after conservative physical therapy. All patients received their respective therapies three times each week over a four-week period. In terms of the intensity of the high intensity laser therapy, it was applied to each patient in the tibia and femoral epicondyle for five minutes while the patient's knee joint was bent at around 30° and the separation distance between the handpiece and the skin was maintained at around 1 cm. The visual analogue scale was used to measure pain, and the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index was used for functional evaluations. [Results] The comparison of differences in the measurements taken before and after the experiment within each group showed a statistically significant decline in both the VAS and the K-WOMAC. The comparison of the two groups showed that the high intensity laser therapy group had statistically significant lower scores in both the visual analogue scale and the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index than the conservative physical therapy group. [Conclusion] High intensity laser therapy is considered an effective non-surgical intervention for reducing pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis and helping them to perform daily activities.

Influences of spinal decompression therapy and general traction therapy on the pain, disability, and straight leg raising of patients with intervertebral disc herniation.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify how spinal decompression therapy and general traction therapy influence the pain, disability, and straight leg raise (SLR) ability of patients with intervertebral disc herniation. [Subjects] The subjects were 30 patients with chronic lumbar pain who were divided into a spinal decompression therapy group (SDTG, n=15), and a general traction therapy group (GTTG, n=15). [Methods] The SDTG used a spinal decompression device, and the GTTG used a lumbar traction device. Both groups received conservative physical therapy three times a week for four weeks. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure the degree of pain the patients with chronic lumbar pain. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to measure the degree of functional disability. A goniometer was used to measure the patients' SLR ability. [Results] Both SDTG and GTTG showed statistically significant decreases in VAS and ODI scores and a statistically significant increase in SLR angle. A comparison of the two groups found no statistically significant differences. [Conclusion] Spinal decompression therapy and general traction therapy are effective at improving the pain, disability, and SLR of patients with intervertebral disc herniation. Thus, selective treatment may be required.

Effects of flexion-distraction manipulation therapy on pain and disability in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of flexion-distraction manipulation therapy on pain and disability in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. [Subjects] Thirty patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were divided into two groups: a conservative treatment group (n=15) and a flexion-distraction manipulation group (n=15). [Methods] The conservative treatment group received conservative physical therapy, and the flexion-distraction group received both conservative physical therapy and flexion-distraction manipulation therapy. Both groups received treatment 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The Visual Analog Scale was used to measure pain intensity, and the Oswestry Disability Index was used to evaluate the level of disability caused by the pain. [Results] The Visual Analog Scale scores for pain were significantly decreased in both groups. In the between-group comparison, the decrease in pain was more significant in the flexion-distraction group. According to the Oswestry Disability Index, the level of disability was significantly decreased in both groups, but the decrease was more significant in the flexion-distraction group. [Conclusion] Flexion-distraction manipulation appears to be an effective intervention for pain and disability among patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

The Effects of Manual Therapy Using Joint Mobilization and Flexion-distraction Techniques on Chronic Low Back Pain and Disc Heights.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of manual therapy using joint mobilization and flexion-distraction techniques on chronic low back pain and disc heights. [Subjects] This study was conducted with 31 chronic low back pain patients who were divided into a manual therapy group (MTG; n=16) and a spinal decompression therapy group (SDTG; n=15). [Methods] The MTG was treated using joint mobilization techniques and flexion-distraction techniques, and the SDTG was treated using spinal decompression therapeutic apparatuses. Conservative physical therapy was used in both groups, and the therapy was implemented three times per week for 6 weeks. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure patient's low back pain scores, and a picture archiving and communication system was used to measure disc height by comparing and analyzing the images. [Results] In comparisons of the VAS within each of the two groups, both the MTG and the SDTG showed significant decreases. In comparisons of disc height within each of the two groups, the MTG showed statistically significant increases. [Conclusion] Manual therapy using joint mobilization techniques and flexion-distraction techniques is considered an effective intervention for addressing low back pain and disc heights in patients with chronic low back pain.