• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to observe the changes of the pain, fatigue, perceived health status, disability in ADL, and depression after Tai Chi for arthritis. Method: The subjects were 19 osteoarthritis women enrolled at one primary health care post. They have agreed to participate in this study, and participated in the 12-week Tai Chi program from Dec. 2006 to Mar. 2007, and all the measurement processes in right after, 2 months later, and 4 months later after Tai Chi program. The measurement tools of this study were all self-reported questionnaires such as Numerical Rating Scale (0-100) for pain, fatigue, and perceived health status, Korean-WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis) Index for joint stiffness, Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire, and CES-Depression scale. Results: The repeated measure ANOVA revealed the significant differences on pain among the right after, 2 months later, and 4 months later the program. Especially 2 months later after program, pain was significantly increased than right after by t-test. There were no significant differences on fatigue, perceived health status, disability in ADL, and depression. Conclusion: Pain was increased after Tai Chi for arthritis program, but fatigue, perceived health status, disability in ADL, and depression were not changed until 4 months after Tai Chi program.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.523-531
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• 2013

Most patients with chronic low back pain experience functional disability of trunk muscle, and limitations in physical activity. While there are many types of exercise programs available, in recent years sling exercise has been emerging as the exercise program for spinal stabilization. It has been supported by a great amount of research with positive findings on its effectiveness. This research studies the effects of bridging exercise, conducted on a sling, on pain level and trunk muscle activation in supine, sidelying, and prone positions during a 4 weeks period. 10 healthy people(normal group, n=10) and 28 patients with low back pain participated in this study. 28 patients were divided into two groups; one group participated in exercise with the sling(experimental group, n=14) and the other group exercised without the sling(control group, n=14). They were asked to use the Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) to answer to the level of their pain they felt (no pain: 0 point, severe pain: 10 points). During sling bridging exercises, the muscle activity level in each muscle measured in each position was standardized as three seconds of EMG signals during five seconds MVIC. In conclusion, the experimental group with four weeks of sling bridging exercise experienced a statistically significant reduction in the pain level(p<.05) and increase in the muscle activities of erector spinae when in supine position, internal oblique when in sidelying position, and rectus abdominis in prone position(p<.05). Regular sling bridging exercise reduces the low back pain and enhances other trunk muscle activation, thereby positively affect spinal stabilization.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.1027-1034
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effects of Korean medical treatment on a patient with compression fractures. Methods: The patient was treated with herbal medicine and acupuncture for 51 days. Symptom changes were measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Range of Motion (ROM), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and European Quality of Life Five Dimensions (EQ-5D) Scale. Results: The NRS score for lower back pain decreased from 7 to 3, and the ODI score decreased from 51.11 to 22.22. Range of motion (ROM) increased meaningfully in flexion(from 30 to 60), Left/Right lateral bending(from 10/30 to 30/45), Left/Right rotation (from 10/30 to 30/45), and the EQ-5D score also increased from 0.506 to 0.677. Conclusion: The results indicate that Korean medical treatment may be effective for managing patients' acute compression fractures.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.991-1000
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• 2021

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of Korean medical treatment for an 81-year-old female patient with pontine infarction complaining of discomfort in both legs. Methods: The patient was hospitalized for 45 days and treated with herbal medicine (mainly Bohyulanshin-tang [補血安神湯], pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and moxibustion). We used the International Restless Legs Scale (IRLS) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and checked the duration of the symptoms to evaluate the clinical effects of the treatment. Results: After 45 days of hospitalization, the IRLS score decreased from 33 to 19, with the lowest score of 8 recorded on the twenty-seventh day after discharge. The NRS score and the duration of symptoms also improved, and the treatment effect continued following discharge. Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medical treatment may be effective for the treatment of restless legs.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2019

Background: Scapular dyskinesis is one of the risk factors for upper extremity injury in patients with chronic stroke. Taping can used as an adjunctive treatment for this. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rigid tape in conjunction with elastic tape and elastic tape only on shoulder pain, proprioceptor, and function of chronic stroke patients with scapular dyskinesis. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to elastic tape (ET) group (n=10) and both tape (BT) group (n=10). Both ET and BT groups performed therapeutic exercise on the upper extremity with taping applied for 4 weeks. Therapeutic exercise was performed 30min/day, 5 times/week. Clinical outcome measures used Numerical pain rating scale with a faces pain scale for pain, angle at shoulder join position sense (JPS) for proprioceptor, and Fugl-meyer assessment upper extremity for function. Results: Clinical outcomes were measured at initial baseline, after 4weeks. There were statistically significant differences in pain, JPS, and function after 4 weeks in both groups (p<.05). There was no significant difference in pain and JPS between the groups, and There was a statistically significant difference in function in the BT group compared to the ET group (p<.05). Conclusions: This results suggest that accurate clinical assessment and appropriate taping can improve proprioceptor and function of the upper extremity in patients with chronic stroke.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.893-903
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated the efficacy of Korean medical treatment for a headache (suspected CPSP) patient with a history of cerebral infarction. Methods: We treated the patient using Korean medical treatments (herbal medicines-Kamiseokyong-tang, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and chuna). The treatments were measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) for headache and post neck pain. General health status was evaluated using the European Quality of Life Five Dimensions (EQ-5d) Scale. Results: We observed improvements in the NRS, NDI, and EQ-5d scores after the treatments. Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medicine may effectively treat headaches (suspected CPSP) with accompanying cerebral infarction.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.767-776
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• 2021

Objective: This study examined a case in which insomnia and pain due to herniated intervertebral disks were improved by treatment with an oriental herbal and the administration of Uhwangchungsim-won. Case Summary: Three patients with insomnia diagnosed with herniated intervertebral disks were treated with a series of Korean medical therapies, including the herbal medication Uhwangchungsim-won, acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, and physical therapy. We used the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) to measure subjective sleep states and the European Quality of Life Five Dimensions (EQ-5d) Scale to evaluate the therapeutic effect. Following treatment, subjective sleep states and the overall scores for pain had improved. Conclusion: The results indicate that Korean medical therapies with Uhwangchungsim-won have beneficial effects on insomnia for patients with herniated intervertebral disks.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.938-947
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• 2019

Objective: This study was performed to report the changes in symptoms and radiological consequences of a patient diagnosed with spinal neurofibroma and complaining of lower back pain. Methods: The patient was diagnosed with a spinal neurofibroma after MRI examination and was treated with traditional Korean medicine, including traditional Korean medication and acupuncture. We measured the change in symptom severity using a numerical rating scale (NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). We also used the EQ-5D (EuroQoL-5D) scale to assess the patient's quality of life. In addition, we examined the change in the size of the cyst by MRI twice after discharge: at about 3 months after discharge and at about 8 months after discharge. Results: After about 6 weeks of treatment, most pathological symptoms had decreased. The patient showed a decline in NRS and ODI scores and showed an increase in quality of life. The two MRI examinations after the discharge revealed a decrease in the size of the cyst. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medicine can be a solution for patients with spinal neurofibroma causing neurological pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.202-208
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• 2022

Background: Neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB) is a typical treatment for severe epigastric cancer pain, but the therapeutic effect is often affected by the variation of local anatomical structures induced by the tumor. Greater and lesser splanchnic nerve neurolysis (SNN) had similar effects to the NCPB, and was recently performed with a paravertebral approach under the image guidance, or with the transdiscal approach under the guidance of computed tomography. This study observed the feasibility and safety of SNN via a transdiscal approach under fluoroscopic guidance. Methods: The follow-up records of 34 patients with epigastric cancer pain who underwent the splanchnic nerve block via the T11-12 transdiscal approach under fluoroscopic guidance were investigated retrospectively. The numerical rating scale (NRS), the patient satisfaction scale (PSS) and quality of life (QOL) of the patient, the dose of morphine consumed, and the occurrence and severity of adverse events were recorded preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months after surgery. Results: Compared with the preoperative scores, the NRS scores and daily morphine consumption decreased and the QOL and PSS scores increased at each postoperative time point (P < 0.001). No patients experienced serious complications. Conclusions: SNN via the transdiscal approach under flouroscopic guidance was an effective, safe, and easy operation for epigastric cancer pain, with fewer complications.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.72-85
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• 2021

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation of the scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-I (STAI-I), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-II (STAI-II), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), and Core Seven Emotions Inventory-short form (CSEI-s) scales with pain improvement. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 66 traffic accident inpatients who satisfy the selection criteria. They had received Korean medical treatment including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, and Chuna during hospitalization. STAI-II, BDI, and CSEI-s scores on hospital day 1, and STAI-I and numerical rating scale(NRS) scores on hospital day 1, 4, 7, and 10 were used for analysis. Pain improvement was evaluated by difference in NRS scores between hospital day 1 and hospital day 4, 7, 10. Results: The STAI-I, BDI, and CSEI-s scores showed significant correlations with pain or pain improvement. Conclusions: This study may be used in the research on psychological state and pain management of traffic accident patients and for patient education. Large-scale, well-designed studies need to be conducted in future to strengthen the results in this regard.