Background and Objectives; Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) are effective in improving and maintaining Range of motion(ROM), increasing muscular strength and power, and increasing athletic performance, especially after exercise. The scapula patterns defined in PNF are activated within the upper extremity patterns and scapula motions together. Proper function of the upper extremities requires both motion and stability of the scapula. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of scapula stabilization exercise training involving muscle strengthening, muscle balance, and movement control exercises on office workers with scapula dysfunction. Materials and Methods: A total of 42 office workers with scapula dyskinesis were recruited and randomly divided into three groups: muscle strengthening exercise group (n = 14), muscle balance exercise group (n = 14), and movement control exercise group (n = 14). The participants underwent 18 sessions (25 min/session, 3 days a week for 6 weeks) of training involving the three types of exercises. Results: The measurement outcomes included the scapula index, measured using a digital Vernier caliper; scapula function, evaluated using the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) outcome questionnaire (pain and performing, work ability, and sports and art activities); and scapulohumeral movements (scapula upward rotation at humeral abduction angles of 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°), evaluated using inclinometers. After the exercise intervention, the scapula index (p = 0.002), DASH pain and performing score (p = 0.000), DASH work ability score (p = 0.000), DASH sports and art activity score (p = 0.027), and scapulohumeral movements (scapula upward rotation at 0° (p = 0.013) and 45° (p = 0.043) humeral abduction) showed significantly greater improvements in the movement control group than in the muscle strengthening and muscle balance groups. Conclusions: Thus, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation can be used as a rehabilitation intervention for scapula position and movement, pain reduction, and functional improvement in office workers with scapula dyskinesis.

Background: The concept of virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation therapy for treating people with low back pain is of growing research interest. However, the effectiveness of such therapy for pain reduction in clinical settings remains controversial. Methods: The present study was conducted according to the reporting guidelines presented in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. We searched the PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and ProQuest databases for both published and unpublished papers. The Cochrane risk of bias tool (version 2) was used to evaluate the quality of the selected studies. GRADEprofiler software (version 3.6.4) was used to evaluate the level of evidence. We analyzed the included research results using RevMan software (version 5.4.1). Results: We included a total of 11 articles in the systematic review and meta-analysis, with a total of 1761 subjects. Having assessed the quality of these studies, the risk of bias was generally low with high heterogeneity. The results revealed a small to medium effect (standardized mean difference = ±0.37, 95% confidence interval: 0.75 to 0) based on evidence of moderate overall quality. Conclusion: There is evidence that treatment using VR improves patients’ pain. The effect size was small to medium, with the studies presenting evidence of moderate overall quality. VR-based treatment can reduce pain; therefore, it may help in rehabilitation therapy.

(1) Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of curved-path stride gait training on the gait ability of patients with stroke. (2) Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with stroke were randomly assigned to curved-path stride gait training (n = 15) and general gait training groups (n = 15). Both groups underwent training for 30 min five times a week for 8 weeks. The gait ability of each was assessed using the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test, 10-meter walk test, and Figure-of-8 walk test (F8WT). (3) Results: The curved-path gait training group showed significant differences in the DGI, TUG test, 10-m walk test, and F8WT pre- versus post- intervention (p < 0.05). The general gait training group showed no significant difference in F8WT pre- versus post-intervention (p > 0.05). Additionally, there was a statistically significant intergroup difference in gait ability (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Curved-path gait training resulted in greater improvement in gait ability than general gait training. Therefore, curved-path gait training can be a meaningful intervention for improving the gait ability of patients with stroke.

Sei-Youn Park⋅Tae-Seok Choi⋅Dae-Hun Kim⋅Byeong-Ho Ryu⋅Sang-Bin Lee. KSPM 2020;15:43-50. https://doi.org/10.13066/kspm.2020.15.3.43