title: Thoracic coupled motions of korean men in good health in their 20s.
abstract: [Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate thoracic coupled motions of 20 Korean young individuals. [Methods] Thoracic motion of twenty healthy male college students aged 23.2±3.1 was examined. The coupled motions of the thoracic regions T1-4, T4-8, T8-12 were measured using a three dimensional motion capture system. [Results] Coupled axial rotation in the same direction as lateral bending was observed in T1-T4 and T4-T8 in the neutral, flexed, and extended postures of the thoracic spine. In T8-T12, coupled axial rotation in the same direction as lateral bending were observed in the neutral and flexed postures, while coupled axial rotation in the opposite direction was observed in an extended posture. [Conclusion] The patterns of coupled motions in the thoracic spine demonstrated some variability between postures and regions in vivo. However, coupled motions in the same direction were predominantly lateral flexion or axial rotation in the three postures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Kunjang College University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ok-Kon
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Yongin University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Namseoul University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Dongnam Health College, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, International University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Kyoung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Pohang College, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Nyeon-Jun
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Kyungwoon University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Daegu Science College, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo-Rim
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Yongin University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joong-San
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Yongin University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Si-Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Yongin University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung-Ok
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Min
keywords: Coupled motion; Thoracic spine; Three-dimensional motion capture system