The effect of "the core conditioning exercises" using the stretch pole on thoracic expansion difference in healthy middle-aged and elderly persons.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effects of the Core Conditioning exercises (CC) using the Stretch Pole. We hypothesized that thoracic expansion difference is better improved by CC with the Stretch Pole than CC without it.


METHODS
Participants were 14 healthy middle-aged and elderly females. Participants were randomly allocated to CC with the stretch pole (SP group) or CC without it (control [C] group). The protocol for both groups consisted of 10 exercises aiming to relax the thoracic and lumbar muscles. The exercises were regularly performed twice a day for one week. Thoracic mobility was measured at the axillary and the 10th rib levels and the thoracic elevation difference was calculated.


RESULTS
and conclusion: The post-intervention values of the SP group were higher than the C group at both the axillary and 10th rib levels. These results indicate that CC using the Stretch Pole improves thoracic mobility.
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Kyoto Tachibana University, 34 Ohyakeyamada-machi Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-city, Kyoto 607-8175, Japan. Electronic address: yokoyama-s@tachibana-u.ac.jp.
Shigeki
S
Yokoyama
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Hiroshima International University, 555-36 Kurosedai Higashihiroshima-city, Hiroshima 724-0695, Japan.
Kazuyoshi
K
Gamada
Department of Rehabilitation, Sadamatsu Hospital, 537 Higashihonmachi Ohmura-city, Nagasaki 856-0831, Japan.
Shinji
S
Sugino
Department of Rehabilitation, Sadamatsu Hospital, 537 Higashihonmachi Ohmura-city, Nagasaki 856-0831, Japan.
Rie
R
Sasano
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D012119:Respiration; D013909:Thorax