• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.319-325
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• 2018

Background: Prolonged neck flexion during smartphone use is known as a factor of neck pain and alteration of neck muscle activity. Studies on the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort and neck muscle responses while texting on a smartphone are still lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort using a numerical rating scale, and neck muscle activity and fatigue using a surface electromyography during a texting task on a touchscreen smartphone. Methods: Twenty-five healthy adolescents used the dominant hand to perform a 30-minute texting task using a touchscreen smartphone at two separate times under one of the following two conditions: taping across the upper trapezius muscle and no taping. Neck discomfort, normalized root mean square, and normalized median frequency slopes for upper trapezius, cervical erector spinae, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were recorded. Results: The results revealed that shoulder taping provided significantly lower neck discomfort than no taping (p < 0.001). However, shoulder taping did not significantly alter normalized root mean square and normalized median frequency slope values of all muscles when compared with no taping controls. Conclusion: Shoulder taping reduces neck discomfort but does not affect neck muscle activity and fatigue while texting on a touchscreen smartphone.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.337-344
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• 2016

Objective: This study reports on the efficacy of using traditional Korean medical treatments (herbal medicine, Shinbaro pharmacopuncture, and acupuncture) for atypical facial pain.Method: The patient was treated with herbal medicines (Chungsanggyuntong-tang and Yanghyeolgeopung-tang), acupuncture, and Shinbaro pharmacopuncture. The study was measured via the numerical rating scale (NRS) and the EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D) to assess the treatments’ effectiveness.Results: After the treatments, the patient’s pain was controlled and the NRS score was decreased. The EQ-5D score also showed improvement.Conclusion: This case shows that traditional Korean medical treatments could be effective in easing the clinical symptoms of atypical facial pain.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.389-396
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• 2016

Objective: This study investigates the clinical application of Shinbaro pharmacopuncture for trigger finger.Method: Because the effect of Shinbaro pharmacopuncture has been proven in various musculoskeletal cases, we treated a patient diagnosed with trigger finger using Shinbaro pharmacopunture. A 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain and Quinnell’s classification for trigger finger were assessed before and after three Shinbaro pharmacopuncture treatments.Results: After treatments, the patient’s pain was controlled (without any side effects), and the NRS score decreased from 8 to 1. The Quinnell’s classification of trigger finger score also improved (from 3 to 1).Conclusion: This case has shown that Shinbaro pharmacopuncture treatment could be effective for treating the clinical symptoms of trigger finger.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.232-236
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• 2016

Objective: Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. Patients with this disease suffer from various peripheral sensory symptoms that are not easily alleviated. We report on a case of a patient with diabetic neuropathy whose symptoms were alleviated after traditional Korean medical treatment.Methods: A patient with hand and foot numbness and coldness diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy was treated with Palmijihwang-tang (Bai Wei Di Huang Wa, 八味地黃湯) three times a day. The progress was evaluated with the numerical rating scale (NRS), neuropathy disability score (NDS), and neuropathy symptom score (NSS).Results: The improvement of symptoms appeared to be faster and more effective than that of conventional treatment. The improvement was observed from the second day of the treatment.Conclusions: This case study shows that Palmijihwang-tang may be an effective treatment for diabetic neuropathy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.768-775
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to report a case in which Korean medicine treatment with Gami-daebo-tang and acupuncture improved the clinical symptoms in a patient with Wallenberg syndrome. Methods: The patient was treated for 53 days with a Korean medicine treatment consisting of Gami-daebo-tang and acupuncture. We measured dysesthesia based on the number of affected dermatomes. Gait ataxia was estimated with the Korean version of the Berg Balance Scale (K-BBS) and the number of times that the patient had stumbled per day. Dizziness was measured with a numerical rating score (NRS). Results: After treatment, the number of affected dermatomes was decreased. The K-BBS score was improved from 52 to 56, and the frequency of stumbling decreased from 20 to 0 times per day. The NRS score of dizziness decreased from 8 to 0. Conclusion: This case showed that Korean medicine treatment might be helpful for improving the symptoms of patients with Wallenberg syndrome.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.894-900
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of traditional Korean medicine as a treatment for a diabetic patient diagnosed with herniated intervertebral lumbar discs. Methods: We treated the patient with herbal medicines, acupuncture, herbal acupuncture therapy, and physical therapy. We measured the state and progress of this case with the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). We also checked serum glucose levels (FBS/PP2hrs) regularly. Results: After treatment, the NRS score was decreased, the ODI score was improved, and the blood glucose level was stabilized. The overall symptoms of the patient showed positive improvement.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.841-850
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the effects of traditional Korean medicine as a treatment for the pain of a compression fracture in a patient with metastatic prostate cancer. Methods: A 60-year-old male patient with a compression fracture was treated with herbal medicines, acupuncture, and pharmacopuncture for 25 days. His chief complaints were severe low back pain, pain and numbness in both legs, and right groin pain. The effect of treatment was evaluated by the numerical rating scale (NRS) score for pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, and blood test results (CBC-diff count, CRP, ESR, etc.). Results: After 25 days of inpatient treatment, the patient's pain was controlled. The NRS and ODI scores were lower and most pathological symptoms had decreased. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medicine can be a solution for patients with compression fractures arising from metastasis of prostate cancer to the spine.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.10-19
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• 2019

Background: In patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), lumbar flexion exercise (LFE) is considered a standard therapeutic exercise that widens the space between the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen. However, some researchers have reported that lumbar extension exercise (LEE) may improve lumbar pain and functional ability in patients with LSS. Although exercise intervention methods for patients with LSS have been widely applied in clinical settings, few studies have conducted comparative analysis of these exercise methods. Objects: This study aimed to compare the effects of LFE, LEE, and lumbar flexion combined with lumbar flexion-extension exercise (LFEE) on pain, range of motion (ROM), pelvic tilt angle, and functional gait ability in patients with LSS. Methods: A total of 30 patients with LSS, LFE (n1=10), LEE (n2=10), and LFEE (n3=10) were assigned to each of the three exercise groups. The numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), modified-modified schober test (MMST)-flexion, MMST-extension, pelvic tilt inclinometer, and 6-minute walking test (6MWT) were measured. Results: After the intervention, statistically significant differences were observed in the NPRS (p=.043), MMST-flexion (p<.001), MMST-extension (p<.001), and 6MWT (p=.005) between groups. According to the post hoc test, the NPRS was statistically significant difference between the LFEE and LEE groups (p=.034). The MMST-flexion was statistically significantly different between the LFE and LEE (p=.000), LFE and LFEE (p=.001), and LEE and LFEE (p=.001) groups. The MMST-extension was statistically significantly different between the LFE and LEE (p<.001), LFE and LFEE (p=.002), and LEE and LFEE (p=.008) groups. The 6MWT was statistically significantly different between the LFE and LFEE (p=.042) and the LEE and LFEE (p=.004) groups. Conclusion: This study suggested that LFEE was the most effective exercise for pain and functional gait ability in patients with LSS, LFE was the most effective exercise for lumbar flexion ROM, and LEE was the most effective exercise for lumbar extension ROM.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.479-486
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• 2021

Background: Prior studies have reported that 40%-90% of the patients with celiac plexus-mediated visceral pain benefit from the neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB), but the predictive factors of response to NCPB have not been evaluated extensively. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the immediate analgesic effectiveness of NCPB in patients with intractable upper abdominal cancer-related pain. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 513 patients who underwent NCPB for upper abdominal cancer-related pain. Response to the procedure was defined as (1) a decrease of ≥ 50% or ≥ 4 points on the numerical rating scale (NRS) in pain intensity from the baseline without an increase in opioid requirement, or (2) a decrease of ≥ 30% or ≥ 2 points on the NRS from the baseline with simultaneously reduced opioid consumption after NCPB. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with successful responses to NCPB. Results: Among the 513 patients included in the analysis, 255 (49.8%) and 258 (50.2%) patients were in the non-responder and responder group after NCPB, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes (odds ratio [OR] = 0.644, P = 0.035), history of upper abdominal surgery (OR = 0.691, P = 0.040), and celiac metastasis (OR = 1.496, P = 0.039) were the independent factors associated with response to NCPB. Conclusions: Celiac plexus metastases, absence of diabetes, and absence of prior upper abdominal surgery may be independently associated with better response to NCPB for upper abdominal cancer-related pain.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.122-137
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• 2021

Objectives: In South Korea, traffic accident victims can be treated under automobile insurance coverage. Korean medicine (KM) clinics have reported the largest number of automobile insurance fee claims among medical institutions. This study investigated the status of the KM automobile insurance system in a single KM clinic. Methods: We retrospectively surveyed the medical charts of 342 traffic accident patients treated at the Jisung KM clinic between January 2009 and June 2017. Results: Most of the patients were men and in their 30s. The most common method of locating the clinic was an internet search. The most common traffic accident type was collision between vehicles (83.63%), with 70.76% of patients visiting during the most acute phase. The major disease codes included S434, M4836, F072, S0600, and S3350. The most frequent treatment period was within 1 month of the accident, and most patients received 10 or fewer treatments. The mean treatment duration and number of treatments were 37.68 ± 45.11 days and 11.68 ± 10.63 treatments, respectively. The initial pain numerical rating scale (NRS), 7.32 ± 0.96, decreased to 3.57 ± 1.40 at the end of treatment, with a symptom improvement score of 1.87 ± 0.60. Regarding sex, age, disease duration, location at the time of the accident, presence of additional and psychological symptoms, and chuna, there were statistically significant differences in treatment duration and number of treatments. A higher number of treatments and the longer treatment duration was associated with a higher initial NRS, lower post-treatment NRS, and better improvement score. Since the introduction of traffic accident (TA) pharmacopuncture, the rate of use of a single type of pharmacopuncture increased; however, no significant differences in treatment duration and number, NRS before and after treatment, and improvement score were observed between treatment groups before and after TA pharmacopuncture. No adverse reactions were observed for any treatment. Conclusion: This study confirmed the previous findings of a high treatment effect of KM under automobile insurance. We also observed significant correlations based on a detailed medical status, which may explain the increasing use of KM in the automobile insurance system. Additional multi-center studies in different regions are needed.