Oh-Yun Kwon

Yonsei University · Department of Physical Therapy (College of Heath Sciences)

Background: Thoracic hyperkyphosis structurally alters the position of the scapula to cause forward shoulder posture. However, the effect of improved thoracic hyperkyphosis on forward shoulder posture is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of eight weeks of thoracic mobilization on improving thoracic hyperkyphosis and...

Background Upper trapezius (UT) pain with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) can affect movement at the glenohumeral joint as well as at the scapulothoracic joint. The investigation of muscle recruitment patterns can discern motor control strategies. The purpose of this study was to compare shoulder muscle recruitment patterns and muscle activity ac...

Introduction: The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) plays a role not only in lumbopelvic stabilization, but also in incontinence and sexual function. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of PFM training by electrical stimulation (ES) on urinary incontinence, PFM performance (i.e. strength and power), lumbopelvic control, and abdomi...

Research Objectives The objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of physical activity on the quality of life (QOL) of Korean middle-aged women with urinary incontinence (UI) by using the online questionnaire constructed for this study. Design This is an online survey study. An online survey was conducted between August 2020 and...

Background: The Y-Balance test (YBT) is commonly used to evaluate balance after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, several studies have also used it as a functional performance test (FPT). Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship between YBT scores and measures of knee joint laxity, static balance, knee flexo...

Kim, J-H, Kwon, O-Y, Hwang, U-J, Jung, S-H, Ahn, S-H, and Kim, H-A. Comparison of shoulder external rotator strength and the asymmetry ratio between workers with and without shoulder impingement syndrome. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2019-Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is the most common shoulder problem causing shoulder pain. Several s...

Background During the empty can test, the direction of the thumb (downward) has been widely used as an instruction for producing glenohumeral internal rotation. However, the combination of forearm pronation and thumb motion as a compensatory movement could contribute to the lack of glenohumeral internal rotation during the empty can test. This stud...

Background: Thoracic mobilisation improves thoracic hyperkyphosis and respiratory function. Diaphragmatic excursion is associated with respiratory function; however, limited studies have assessed the effect of thoracic mobilisation on diaphragmatic excursion. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of thoracic mobilisation on diap...

BACKGROUND: The focus of exercises for restoring the imbalance between scapular upward rotator muscles – upper trapezius (UT), serratus anterior (SA), and lower trapezius (LT) – commonly aims to increase SA and LT activities while not increasing UT activity. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the activity of the UT, SA, and LT mus...

Background: Due to the extended use of smartphones, people spend a lot of time on these devices while lying down. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to compare the differences in neck muscle activity of participants while they watched videos on a smartphone in four different lying positions (supine (SUP), prone on elbows (PE), side...

Introduction: The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) could affect female sexual functions. The hip muscles are morphologically and functionally linked to PFM and are important elements of female sexual attraction. Aim: To determine the relationship between female sexual function and hip muscle strength and PFM functions in women with stress urinary incon...

Background Faults in postural alignment and movement of the pelvis are associated with non-specific low back pain. However, limited studies have investigated the differences in pelvic rotation angle in the transverse plane in the supine position and during active straight leg raise between subjects with and without non-specific low back pain. Meth...

Objectives: It is unclear which factors increase the risk of developing pressure pain hypersensitivity, a type of neurophysiological hyperexcitability. The present study investigated the relative contributions of physical and psychological factors to pressure pain hypersensitivity of the upper trapezius for each sex. Methods: In total, 154 individu...

Background: The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) is associated with respiratory function. We investigated the effects of PFM training by pelvic floor electrical stimulation (PFES) on PFM strength, diaphragm excursion, and upper rib cage movement during tidal and forceful breathing and coughing in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: In...

Background: This study was performed to determine the effectiveness of 8 weeks of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training by electrical stimulation (ES) on PFM function, lumbopelvic control, abdominal muscle thickness, and the contraction ratio in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: Women with SUI were randomized into an ES group (n =...

Background The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of surface electrical stimulation in a seated position (SESSP), as pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training, on PFM functions (time to reach maximal pressure [TRMP], muscle strength, power and endurance), urinary leakage and quality of life in patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI)....

Background: Manual therapy has been recommended to reduce and prevent musculoskeletal problems related to thoracic hyperkyphosis. With recent rapid technological developments, manual techniques can now be implemented by mechanical devices; hence, mechanical massage can manipulate the back muscles and mobilize the spine. Purpose: Here, we aimed t...

Background: Stress urinary incontinence is an involuntary leakage of urine due to a weak pelvic floor and weak sphincter when the intra-abdominal pressure increases. Its symptoms are known to improve upon electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor. This study aimed to determine the effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation on ultrasonography...

Objective Dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) is associated with sexual dysfunction in women with stress urinaryincontinence (SUI). The EasyK7 device was developed to stimulate the PFM by surface electrical stimulation duringsitting (SESdS). We investigated the effects of SESdS on PFM function and sexual function in women with SUI.Methods...

The occurrence of shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is associated with the frequent handling and lifting of heavy loads and excessive repetitive work above the shoulder level. Thus, assembly workers have a high prevalence of shoulder injuries, including SIS. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in shoulder ROM, muscle strength...

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of blocked and random practice schedules of balance training in dynamic balance abilities of older adults using Wii Fit balance game tasks. Method: Forty-one participants who were not receiving hospice care or living in a nursing home participated. Three Wii Fit balance tasks (tasks A, B, and C) were selected f...

Background: Increased genu recurvatum (GR) angle is a risk factor for knee injury. Identification of factors causing GR is important for the prevention and rehabilitation of GR. Few studies have investigated the association between muscle strength and GR. Objective: To examine the association between GR angle and hip and knee muscle strength in...

Although lumbopelvic stability exercise improves lumbopelvic motor control function in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), the difference in lumbopelvic motor control function between the patients with CLBP and the healthy controls is unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare lumbopelvic motor control function between patients with...

Objective Low back pain (LBP) has commonly been managed via classification-specific interventions in homogeneous groups. However, it is largely unknown whether treatment tailored to specific classifications is more effective than generic treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of classification-specific treatment on the sel...

Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) devices for abdominal muscles are being marketed to the general public to improve physical appearance. Abdominal muscles play an important role in lumbopelvic stability for optimizing performance. We investigated the effects of NMES training of abdominal muscles on muscle size, muscle strengt...

Objective Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined as involuntary urine loss during effort, sneezing, or coughing. We investigated which pelvic floor muscle (PFM) functions (muscle strength, power, and endurance) are associated with improvement in subjective and objective symptoms after 8 weeks of surface electrical stimulation (SES) training....

Background Weakness of evertor strength is controversial in chronic ankle instability (CAI). Ankle evertor muscles are attached to the toe joints as well as to the metatarsal bone. Therefore, it is necessary to consider toe joint position for the measurement of evertor strength. The purpose of this study was to compare ankle evertor strength and mu...

Context: Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) was designed for artificial muscle activation or superimposed training. Objectives: To compare the effects of 8 weeks of superimposed technique (ST; application of electrical stimulation during a voluntary muscle action) and EMS on the cross-sectional area of the rectus abdominis, lateral abdominal wa...

Context: Side bridge exercises strengthen the hip, trunk, and abdominal muscles and challenge the trunk muscles without the high lumbar compression associated with trunk extension or curls. Previous research using electromyography (EMG) reports that performance of the side bridge exercise highly activates the gluteus medius (Gmed). However, to the...

Background The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of surface electrical stimulation in a seated position (SESSP), as pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training, on PFM functions (time to reach maximal pressure [TRMP], muscle strength, power and endurance), urinary leakage and quality of life in patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI)....

Background: Previous studies suggested that patients with symptomatic intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) of lumbar spine have reduced cross-sectional area (CSA) and functions of core muscles. However, reduced CSA and functions of core muscles have been observed not only in patients with symptomatic IDD but also in patients with other subgroups...

Background: Ankle evertor muscles are important for preventing lateral ankle sprain. Since, the evertor muscles cross the ankle and toe joints, the position at which the ankle evertor muscle strength is measured is important. However, no studies have previously investigated the effect of ankle and toe positions on the strength of the ankle evertor...

Introduction: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is often associated with female sexual dysfunction. We investigated which pelvic floor muscle (PFM) parameters (strength, power, and endurance) are associated with improvement of sexual function after 8 weeks of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) training. Aim: This study was performed to...

Study Design: Cross-sectional comparison. Introduction: Forearm supination range of motion is often limited by short or stiff pronators. Many studies have examined maximal isometric forearm supination torque (MIFST). However, there is little research comparing MIFST in two elbow positions between subjects with and without limited forearm supination...

Background: Because patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) are heterogeneous, subgrouping patients with NSCLBP might clarify the research findings. NSCLBP in the direction of extension movement, namely active extension pattern (AEP), is common during prolonged standing. Objective: Predictors of pain intensity and dysfunction were...

Objectives: To investigate the effects of friction massage techniques on the pronator teres muscle on supination range of motion (ROM) and supinator strength in individuals with and without limited supination ROM. Methods: In total, 26 subjects (13 with limited supination ROM and 13 healthy subjects) volunteered to participate in this study. We use...

Findings about predictors of chronic lower-back pain (CLBP) were inconsistent and inconclusive in previous studies because patients with CLBP are heterogeneous. Subgrouping patients with CLBP, according to a CLBP classification system, might thus clarify the research findings. CLBP in the direction of lumbar flexion movement, that is, the flexion p...

Background: Posterior shoulder tightness (PST) is related to shoulder conditions such as shoulder impingement and limited shoulder horizontal adduction (SHA). The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of self cross body stretching (CBS) with and without scapular stabilization (SS) on SHA and shoulder internal rotation (SIR) range of mot...

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the inter-rater reliability of glenohumeral internal rotation (GIR) range of motion (ROM) and pressure measurements among four measurement methods: (1) Manual stabilization of the humeral head and coracoid process (MSHC) without applying consistent pressure (ACP) to both the stationary and the mov...

Background The efficacy of facial muscle exercises (FMEs) for facial rejuvenation is controversial. In the majority of previous studies, nonquantitative assessment tools were used to assess the benefits of FMEs. Objectives This study examined the effectiveness of FMEs using a Pao (MTG, Nagoya, Japan) device to quantify facial rejuvenation. Method...