• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to analyze the phases of back pain occurring on pregnant women, and to raise the necessity of the pain management on the basis of the former analysis. The objective group is 284 pregnant women who visited department of OBGY of hospital located both in Seoul and Andong. The results are as follows; 1. 204(71.8%) pregnant women were suffering from back pain. The ratio of pain occurrance in terms of the duration of pregnancy shows that 78.3% within 3 pregnant months, 68.4% between four and six months and 72.1% over seven month. Most common ares of pain was low back area rating 60.5%. 2. The most painful postural for the suffering women was lying on the back rating 35.9% and the next painful posture was standing rating 34.4%. And the most painful movement was to maintaining continues movement(57.8%). Twisting back rates the second(17.2%). These two variables were relevant each other(p<0.05). 3. 46.7% of pregnant women were experiencing nocturnal pain. Among women experienced the pain before pregnancy, 39.9% were suffering during the pregnancy. The occurrence of nocturnal pain was related to the pain before and after the pregnancy(p<0.05). 4. 58.8% of pregnant women who experience back pain take the pain for granted as a normal proceeding of pregnancy while 3.9% recognize the symptom as an abnormal. Pain recognition in accordance with the phases does not show much difference(p<0.05). 5. It is shown that the more one delivers the number of babies, the faster back pain occurs(p<0.01). 6. 32.3% of the pain-suffering women have family member(s) having back pain. Family member(s) of the women who does not experience the pain don't have the pain either. This case reports 46.1%. Statistically, these two variables are relevant(p<0.01). 7. 43.0% of back pain experiencing women does not have any particular management plan against the pain. 20.7% is exercising as for prevention. Women who recognize the necessity of some means of therapy for their pain marked 42.9%. The majority(65.8%) of women responded exercise gymnastic work-out are most appropriate pain management. The above results show that a great number of pregnant women is experiencing back pain, however, they properly managed. This span suggests that appropriate advocacy and education for pregnant women is necessary. It is recommended that positive contribution can be made to better health of pregnant women when pain management by physical therapist is given.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim is to comprehend the difference of moxibustion used according to applied body parts (knee pain, neck pain, back pain) to oriental doctors running clinic in Seoul. Methods : A sampling of 288 oriental doctors running clinic in Seoul was done and the doctors were asked to fill out 20 questions by interviewing directly from Nov. 23. 2009 to Jan. 9. 2010. Results : The result shows that moxibustion was used for knee pain and back pain more than neck pain. The type of moxibustion mostly used was sticker moxibustion for all three symptoms. Burn marks were left mostly in knee and back pain. Most large volume of moxa was used to back pain. More than half of the oriental doctors used 1-3 acupoints for one procedure and on average 2-3 sessions was done. Patients with knee pain and back pain had more than 4 sessions compared to neck pain. Treatments were mostly done 3 times a week, and as for total treatment period, it took less than 1 week for acute symptom, and it took more than 1 week and less than 5 weeks for chronic symptom. Conclusions : This research shows that the method of moxibustion used differs according to the area of treatment(knee pain, neck pain, back pain) by survey of oriental doctors through direct interviews.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify low pain prevalence rate and factors affecting low back pain in emergency medical technicians. Method: A descriptive relationship research design was utilized. The participants were 74 emergency medical technicians who worked at fire stations in W and J city and agreed to participate in this study. Data were collected between April and August 2008 using a questionnaire, which included demographic factors, severity of low back pain using a visual analog scale, factors related to low back pain and health behavior, and BMI. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression were performed for data analysis. Results: 85.1% of emergency medical technicians experienced low back pain. The mean score of low back pain was relatively low (M=4.0, SD=2.33). Significant factors affecting low back pain were found to be age, marital status, exercise, hours of standing work, and BMI. These variables explained 35.1% of variance in low back pain (F=8.45, p<.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that further research is needed to develop interventions for prevention and management of low back pain among emergency medical technicians.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.76-84
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between pain intensity, physical impairments, disability, and psychological factors according to the difference in duration of low back pain. This study was a cross-sectional survey of 102 participants with low back pain, divided into two groups equal in number: The first group consisted of patients with acute and subacute low back pain, while the second group consisted of patients suffering from chronic low back pain. The results showed that gender, age, pain intensity, physical impairment, disability and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs (FABs) for work activities were not significantly different between two groups. FABs for physical activities of the first group were significantly more prevalent than in the second group. More than moderate correlations were found between pain intensity, physical impairment, and disability in the first group. Less than moderate correlations were found between pain intensity, physical impairment, disability, FABs, and depression in the second group. These findings suggest that we must consider psychological factors in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain. Regression analyses revealed that pain intensity and FABs for work activities significantly contributed to the prediction of disability in the first group. Also, pain intensity and FABs for physical activities significantly contributed to the prediction of disability in the second group. Pain intensity was most important predictor of disability in two groups.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.134-137
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• 1998

The presence of an enlarged transverse process on one or both sides of the last lumbar vertebra is a common congenital anomaly of the lumbar vertebra. It is thought to be a genetic or developmental anatomical variant. The first reported assimilation of the fifth lumbar vertebra into the sacrum associated with low back pain was in 1917 by Bertolotti. However, clinical significance of lumbosacral transitional vertebra has not been fully considered due to lack of scientific investigations dealing with it. We experienced a case of symptomatic lumbosacral transitional vertebra during management of low back pain. Low back pain was relieved after infiltration of local anesthetics and steroid into the false joint of lumbosacral transitional vertebra. This result may possibly indicate a significant correlation between low back pain and lumbosacral transitional vertebra.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

Low back pain is a common clinical condition with heterogeneous causes and challenges to manage. High prevalence and numerous assessments result in an enormous socioeconomic burden. Clinician must conduct efficient and stepwise evaluation process to rule out serious spinal pathology, neurologic involvement, and identify risk factors for chronicity. The process can be achieved through the focused history taking and physical examination. Certain factors related to serious spinal pathology include age (>50 years), trauma, unexplained fever, recent urinary or skin infection, unrelenting night or rest pain, unexplained weight loss, osteoporosis, immunosuppression, steroid use, and widespread neurological symptoms. In non-specific low back pain, diagnostic imaging and laboratory studies are often unnecessary and can disturb an appropriate management. For the management of acute low back pain, patient education and medication such as acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants are recommended. For chronic low back pain, behavior therapy, back exercise, and spinal manipulation are beneficial. The evidence based approach could improve success rate of management, result in prevention of acute low back pain from being chronic intractable pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.162-167
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• 1991

Epidural steroid therapy has been well-established for the treatment of sciatica and low back pain. Disappointing results following surgical decompression or discectomy pain owing for to nerve root compression have led to trials of corticosteroids injected either systemically or into the intrathecal or epidural space to treat intervertebral disc. Epidural steroid is less effective in the patients with low back pain who have a history of surgical operation, so that the use of epidural morphine and methylprednisolone has been advocated for the amelioration of chronic low back pain in the post-laminectomy pain("failed back") syndrome over the past several years. We treated 47 patients with low back pain who had a history of one or two surgical procedures. We concluded that epidural steroid therapy is less effective in the patients with "failed back" syndrome than in the virgin back furthermore, there is a greater risk of complication such as inadvertent dural puncture and corresponding motor paralysis and headache.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.15-29
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• 2000

Low back pain is generally defined as a complex symptom rather than a specific diseases entity, especially when musculoskeletal lesions of the low back, neurogenic, vasculogenic and discogenic lesions are present. Sixty to eighty percent of all human being have experienced low back pain once or more times during in their lifetime. Low back pain is a one of the commonest cause of physical impairment and induces disability the activities of everyday living or the activities of work. Today, low back pain plays important part for the loss of working capability from social, industrial field and individual daily life. But there are no study about incidence and prevention program of low back pain in rural peoples. This study was conducted to find out current status and characteristics related to low back pain in rural peoples(especially engaged in agriculture), so that could provide basic data to establish prevention program for them. The data were gathered from 301 rural adults(female 62.1%, male 37.9%) with low back pain by the structured interview in the 4 communities(south and north Gyeong-sang Do and Chung-cheong Do), and sampled at local hospital, local clinic, and health clinic center in May, 2000. The results were as followed. About one third of cases(35.5%) were aged from 60 to 69, 34.6% were smoker, and 91.4% not used to regular exercise. Low back pain frequently due to intervertebral articulopathy(42.5%), follewed by herniated intervertebral disk(19.9%), sprain(17.3%), vertebral dislocation(4.0%), and etc(16.2%). Above half of cases(56.5%) were a eight-hour workday, and 61.8% complained of low back pain during work. Mostly, period of agricultural experience was more than 20 years, and cultivated more than 2 crops. Low back pain is common to rural adults, therefore adequate resting time from work and lumbar strengthening exercise program needed to prevent low back pain in rural peoples.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dry-hydrotherapy to release pain in patient with low back pain. Methods: The subjects of the study were fifty patient with low back pain in orthopedic clinic. Fifty patients who had low back pain were randomly divided into 2 groups, 1) dry-hydrotherapy group 2) control group. Visual analog scale(VAS) and Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire were measured before and after treatment. The treatment plan Was as follows; 15 min. exercise per day and 5 days per week for 2 weeks. Results: 1. Before dry-hydrotherapy, there was no significant difference in VAS score and Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire score between two groups. 2. The VAS score was significantly decreased in both groups after 2-week dry-hydrotherapy and the decrease in the AS score in dry-hydrotherapy group was significantly lower than in control group. 3. The Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire score was significantly decreased in both groups after 2-week dry-hydrotherapy and the decrease in Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire score dry-hydrotherapy group was significantly lower than in control group. Conclusion: In conclusion, the dry-hydrotherapy was effective to alleviate pain in patients with low back pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.285-289
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• 2014

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive and safe technique for motor cortex stimulation. TMS is used to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders, including mood and movement disorders. TMS can also treat several types of chronic neuropathic pain. The pain relief mechanism of cortical stimulation is caused by modifications in neuronal excitability. Depression is a common co-morbidity with chronic pain. Pain and depression should be treated concurrently to achieve a positive outcome. Insomnia also frequently occurs with chronic lower back pain. Several studies have proposed hypotheses for TMS pain management. Herein, we report two cases with positive results for the treatment of depression and insomnia with chronic low back pain by TMS.