오자형 휜다리 교정과 최대산소섭취량 향상을 위한 정체경락 프로그램의 효과분석 = Analysis of the Effects of Jeongche Meridian Therapy Program on Genu Valgum Correction and Maximal Oxygen Uptake Enhancement

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a Jeongche Gyeongrak program on lower-limb alignment and cardiorespiratory fitness in women with genu valgum, and to analyze the correlation between changes in inter-knee distance and maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max). The participants were 18 women in their early 30s, who were divided into an experimental group (n = 10) that participated in the Jeongche Gyeongrak program and a control group (n = 8) that received no intervention. The experimental group performed the program three times per week for 60 minutes per session over a 12-week period. Inter-knee distance was measured as the horizontal distance between the knees with both feet together and knees fully extended, using a Vernier caliper. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using a metabolic gas analyzer according to the Bruce treadmill protocol, and metabolic variables including VO₂max, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and respiratory rate (RR) were analyzed. After 12 weeks, the experimental group showed a significant reduction in inter-knee distance (p = .029), while VO2max demonstrated an overall increasing trend (p = .062). In contrast, the control group showed no improvement in inter-knee distance, and changes in VO₂max were minimal. Correlation analysis of change scores revealed a very strong negative correlation between decreases in inter-knee distance and increases in VO₂max among all participants (r = -.86). This relationship was further strengthened in the experimental group, showing an extremely strong negative correlation (r = -.91), whereas no significant correlation was observed in the control group (r = -.515). These findings suggest that improvements in lower-limb alignment achieved through the Jeongche Gyeongrak program may be associated with increased oxygen utilization efficiency and cardiorespiratory fitness. In particular, the strong negative correlation between changes in inter-knee distance and VO₂max observed in the experimental group indicates that structural recovery of lower-limb alignment may be linked to improvements in biomechanical efficiency and energy metabolism. This study suggests that the Jeongche Gyeongrak program may contribute not only to postural correction but also to functional fitness enhancement, and further studies with larger sample sizes and diverse age groups are warranted.