The effect of abdominal drawing-in exercise and myofascial release on pain, flexibility, and balance of elderly females.
[Purpose] This study is designed to compare the effects of abdominal drawing-in exercise and myofascial release on pain, flexibility, and balance of elderly females. [Subjects and Methods] Forty elderly females aged 65 or older who had complained of low back pain for three months or longer were selected as the subjects. They were randomly and equally assigned to either an abdominal drawing-in group or a myofascial release group. The subjects conducted exercise three times per week, 40 minutes each time, for eight weeks. As evaluation tools, visual analogue scale for pain, remodified schober test for flexibility, and upright posture with eye opening on hard platform, upright posture with eye closing on hard platform, upright posture with eye opening on soft platform, upright posture with eye closing on soft platform using tetrax for balance were used. [Results] The abdominal drawing-in exercise group saw significant difference in pain and balance after the exercise compared to before the exercise. The myofascial release group saw significant difference in pain and flexibility after exercise compared to before the exercise. [Conclusion] The above study showed that abdominal drawing-in exercise affected elderly females regarding pain and balance and myofascial release influenced their pain and flexibility.
Department of Physical Therapy, Gwang ju Trauma Center, Republic of Korea.
Seong Hun
SH
Yu
Department of Physical Therapy, Seoyeong University, Republic of Korea.
Yong Hyeon
YH
Sim
Department of Physical Therapy, Gwangju Health University, Republic of Korea.
Myung Hoon
MH
Kim
Department of Occupational Therapy, Sehan University, Republic of Korea.
Ju Hee
JH
Bang
Department of Physical Therapy, Hanlyo University, Republic of Korea.
Kyung Hyun
KH
Son
Department of Physical Therapy, Hanlyo University, Republic of Korea.
Jae Woong
JW
Kim
Department of Physical Therapy, Hanlyo University, Republic of Korea.
Hyun Jin
HJ
Kim
Abdominal drawing-in exercise; Balance; Myofascial release