• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.3 s.54
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• pp.565-577
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• 1996

This study was conducted to evaluate the association of work posture with cervical spine abnormality toward 106 microwave-oven assemblers. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain a general characteristics and a work history of workers. The posture of neck and shoulder joint of workers were measured with video tape recording and the simple X-ray of cervical spine was checked-up to observe the X-ray abnormality including degenerative change, curvature abnormality, disc space narrowing or disc canal narrowing. The result were as follows. 1. The prevalence of degenerative change among cervicobrachial disorder workers was 44.3% (47 persons), curvature abnormality was 43.4%(46 persons), disc space narrowing was 21.7%(23 persons), and disc canal narrowing was 21.7%(23 persons). 2. The prevalence of degenerative change at cervical spine was increased with the degree of neck flexion(flexed versus neutral, odds ratio [OR]=2.7), the total work posture of neck(mild or severe awkward versus neutral ; OR=1.2, 3.4). 3. The prevalence of degenerative change at cervical spine was increased with the degree of the right shoulder flexion, the heaviness of the materials carried by the right hand and the degree of awkwardness at the total work posture of right shoulder(p<0.05). 4. There was no evidence of association between curvature abnormality, disc space narrowing, disc canal narrowing and work posture. In conclusion the awkward work posture was related with degenerative change of cervical spine among microwave oven assembling workers and the further study in these field must be made to prove the association objectively.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.975-983
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• 2006

Degenerative arthritis is characterized by progressive degenerative change, particularly change occurring to the joint due to the burden of body weight. Arthritis means inflammation occurring to the joint: it causes pain and limits exercise involving movement of the joint. Edema is not a disease but a condition which is accompanied by progression of a certain disease. Degenerative arthritis patients also have various diseases and mostly brings edema. Even though the cause is known to be abrasion of the joints, there are many cases in which walking difficulties are caused by pressure and pain due to edema. We found patients with walking difficulties caused by pain and increase of pressure in the joints walk better after treatment of both the pain and edema.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.39
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• pp.19.1-19.6
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• 2017

Background: The aim of this study was to assess correlation between pain and degenerative bony changes on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of temporomandibular joints (TMJs). Methods: Two hundred eighty-three temporomandibular joints with degenerative bony changes were evaluated. Pain intensity (numeric rating scale, NRS) and pain duration in patients with degenerative joint disease (DJD) were also analyzed. We classified condylar bony changes on CBCT into five types: osteophyte (Osp), erosion (Ero), flattening (Fla), subchondral sclerosis (Scl), and pseudocyst (Pse). Results: Degenerative bony changes were the most frequent in the age groups of 10~19, 20-29, and 50~59 years. The most frequent pain intensity was "none" (NRS 0, 34.6%) followed by "annoying" (NRS 3-5, 29.7%). The most frequent condylar bony change was Fla (219 joints, 77.4%) followed by Ero (169 joints, 59.7%). "Ero + Fla" was the most common combination of the bony changes (12.7%). The frequency of erosion was directly proportional to NRS, but the frequency of osteophyte was inversely proportional. The prevalence of Ero increased from onset until 2 years and gradually decreased thereafter. The prevalence of Osp, Ero, and Pse increased with age. Conclusions: Osp and Ero can be pain-related variables in degenerative joint disease (DJD) patients. "Six months to 2 years" may be a meaningful time point from the active, unstable phase to the stabilized late phase of DJD.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the correlation between the degree of torn rotator cuff as recorded by MRI and degenerative change of acromion and greater tuberosity of humerus determined by simple radiographs. Materials and Methods: Of the 518 cases included in this study, a group of 234 cases had a chronic rotator cuff tear and a control group of 284 cases had an intact rotator cuff in shoulder MRI. The degree of degenerative changes was classified according to the length of spur and morphological change of acromion and greater tuberosity through the true anteroposterior simple radiograph in supraspinatus outlet view. The degree of tear (partial-thickness or full-thickness tear) and the size of complete rotator cuff tear were analyzed according to the MRI findings of shoulder. The authors also evaluated the correlation between the degree and size of torn rotator cuff and the degenerative change of acromion and greater tuberosity. Results: There were significant differences in the size and extent of torn rotator cuff according to the age, sex and degenerative change of acromion and greater tuberosity of humerus (p<0.001). More degenerative changes of acromion and greater tuberosity in simple shoulder radiographs showed the increased degree and size of torn rotator cuff (p<0.001). In addition, the higher degree and larger size of torn rotator cuff were noted in older age subjects (p<0.001) and in the female group (p<0.001). Conclusion: More degenerative changes of acromion and greater tuberosity in simple shoulder radiographs showed the increased degree and size of torn rotator cuff. Therefore, if a high degree of degenerative change of the acromion and greater tuberosity on simple radiograph is noted, the possibility of degenerative rotator cuff tear should be considered. In addition, the age and sex could be associative factors for larger size of torn rotator cuff.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.52-66
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• 2003

The intervertebral disc is a cartilaginous structure that resembles articular cartilage in its biochemistry, but morphologically it is clearly different. It shows degenerative and ageing changes earlier than does any other connective tissue in the body, It is believed to be important clinically because there is an association of disc degeneration with back pain. Degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc are thought to develop as aging, mechanical stress and metabolic factors. Genetic factors may also play a part in the onset or progress of the degenerative process. They, together with environmental factors, may act as determinants of the structural characteristics of the intervertebral disc and produce a tendency to generation, In this short review we outline the morphplogy and biochemistry of normal intervertebral disc and the changes that arise during degeneration. Therefore this study will review degeneration of intervertebral disc, so we will have knowledge about low back pain associated with degenerative change in the intervertebral disc.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 2007

Purpose : The aim of this study is to consider degenerative spine disease theoretically and compare plain radiography which is a basic study for low back pain with MRI in cases of degenerative lumbar spine disease to find out whether the abnormalities agree with each other. Methods : In 4 cases of lumbar degenerative disease, we studied the relation of the abnormalities such as disc space narrowing, spinal space narrowing, loss of lordosis and osteophytes on plain radiography with those on MRI of HIVD, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. Results : Many abnormalities such as disc space narrowing, spinal space narrowing, loss of lordosis, osteophytes and change of cortex & bone marrow on plain radiography suggest HIVD, spinal stenosis, spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis on MRI. Conclusion : For low back pain patients, plain radiography is a basic study in diagnosis of HIVD, spinal stenosis, spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis but MRI or CT scan is necessary to develop(build) a treatment plan like an operation.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2011

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is a result of both mechanical and biological events that destabilize the normal coupling of degradation and synthesis of articular cartilage chondrocytes and extracelluar matrix, and subchondral bone. Although it is likely that the molecular basis of pathogenesis is similar to that of other joints, additional study of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is required due to its unique structure and function. This study was carried out to evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics of TMJ osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of TMJ OA in Patients with temporomandibular disorders (1405 men and 2922 women whose mean age was $30.2\; {\pm}\; 15.4$ and $33.1\;{\pm}\;15.2$ years, respectively) who had visited the TMJ and Orofacial Pain Clinic of Seoul National University Dental Hospital in 2007. Orthopantomograms, TMJ tomograms and transcranial radiographs were used to evaluate degenerative change of the mandibular condyle. The obtained results were as follows: 1. Degenerative change of the mandibular condyle was observed in 883 (20.4%) of 4327 subjects. The prevalence was significantly higher in women (706 patients, 24.1%) than in men (177 patients, 12.6%), and this significant difference between genders was observed in all age groups. 2. The prevalence of degenerative change of the mandibular condyle in TMD patients showed a gentle increase along with age. Such increase was statistically significant in women (P < 0.001), but not in men. 3. Sclerosis was observed the most frequently in all age groups and the mean age of the patients with osteophyte was the highest among four types of degenerative change. 4. Although men showed degenerative change in the left side more often and women showed degenerative change more frequently in both sides, the difference of distribution in sides between genders was not significant. In conclusion, the prevalence of degenerative change of the mandibular condyle in TMD patients is higher in women than in men, and increases steadily with aging, but not as dramatically as in other joints that show a steep increase in prevalence around the age of 45 years. It can be suggested that the epidemiologic characteristic of OA of the TMJ differs from those of other joints, and that a more extensive study based on the general population is necessary.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.202-212
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• 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Cheong-A-Won Gagambang (JCE003) treatment for degenerative knee osteoarthritis. Methods: This was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial. There were 36 adults with degenerative knee osteoarthritis who were randomly allocated into JCE003 1,000 mg, JCE003 2,000 mg, or the placebo group (in a 1:1:1 ratio). The participants received 12 weeks of treatment and had scheduled tests every 6 weeks. The primary outcomes were measured using the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities scale, and the secondary outcomes were measured using the visual analog scale, European quality of life-5-dimensions, patient global impression of change, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Changes between baseline scores and scores following study completion were analyzed. Results: There were 29 participants whose data were analyzed in this study. The change of Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities, visual analog scale, European quality of life-5-dimensions scores showed significant improvement in the JCE003 1,000 mg group. The change of patient global impression of change was significantly improved in the placebo group. There were 14 adverse events, but there was no clinically significant relationship with the intake of JCE003 compared with the placebo. Conclusion: Taking JCE003 may be effective at improving knee pain in patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis and appears to be safe. Based on this study, the concentration and feasibility of the test group may be used when conducting a large-scale clinical trial of degenerative knee osteoarthritis in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.317-321
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• 2019

Purpose: To identify the effect of knee joint traction therapy on pain, physical function, and depression in patients with degenerative arthritis. Methods: In total, 30 patients with degenerative arthritis were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the experimental group, who underwent knee joint traction therapy, and the control group, who underwent general physical therapy (15 patients per group). Pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS), physical function was measured using the Western ontario and McMaster universities osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index, and depression was measured using the Beck depression inventory (BDI). The VAS, WOMAC score, and BDI score were recorded before and after the 4-week treatment. Results: As a result of comparison within groups, the experimental and control group showed significant difference for VAS, WOMAC and BDI after the experiment (p<0.05). In comparison between the two groups, the experimental group in which knee joint traction was applied showed more significant change in VAS, WOMAC and BDI than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that knee joint traction therapy was effective in improving pain, physical function, and depression in patients with degenerative arthritis.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.13-22
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find out the characteristics of intervertebral disc changes and relative factors of the spondylolisthesis patients in fifties by type of spondylolisthesis. Methods : We investigated 69 cases of patients who visited one Korean traditional medicine hospital and were diagnosed as spondylolisthesis on L-spine X-ray and L-spine magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). We selected 37 lytic spondylolisthesis patients and 32 degenerative spondylolisthesis patients. We analysed the relativity between the numbers of changed discs, types of changed disc, locations of nerve compression and types of spondylolisthesis. Results : 1. The number of changed discs increase in lytic type, but there is no statistically significant difference. 2. Bulging disc is the dominant type of disc change. There is no significant difference between two types. 3. Both foraminal type was shown dominantly in lytic spondylolisthesis, diffuse type in degenerative spondylolisthesis by the analysis of the location of the nerve compression. But the symptoms of patients and dermatome did not match in most of the cases. Conculsions : The direction of nerve compression is different while the disc changing aspects are similar in both types. In several spondylolisthesis patients in fifties, symptoms of patient are related to degeneration of vertebrae, not to the type of spondylolisthesis.