• Clinical Pain
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2017

Objective: To find that the patients who conducted home self-exercise in conjunction with intra-articular corticosteroid injection will have better improvement in subacromial subdeltoid (SASD) bursitis symptoms than those who received only an injection. Method: A prospective, nonrandomized, comparison study was conducted in outpatient rehabilitation clinic in a tertiary university hospital. Patients diagnosed with SASD bursitis with physical examination and ultrasound evaluation were included and received ultrasound guided injection (UGI). Patients were divided into two groups according to the compliance of self-exercise: UGI-exercise group and UGI only group. Visual analog scale (VAS) was checked before, at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after the UGI. A patient's global impression of change (PGIC) survey was made at 3 months after the UGI. Results: A total of 82 patients with SASD bursitis were included. At 3 weeks after the injection, the mean VAS for the UGI-exercise group was 2.6 ± 1.7 and for UGI only group was 1.9 ± 1.3 (p=0.030). At 3 months after the injection, the mean VAS for the UGI-exercise group was 4.0 ± 1.3 and for UGI only group was 5.4 ± 1.4 (p<0.001). Conclusion: We concluded that home-based self-exercise of the shoulder provides an additional benefit for pain alleviation possibly with prolonging the effect of injection in SASD bursitis.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.129-137
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• 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the risk factors focusing on the neck and lower back between general workers (GW) and mild intellectual disability workers (MIDW) in the automobile manufacturing industry. Methods: A total of 32 participants were required for this study design to achieve 80% power, 0.9 effect size, and an alpha level of 0.05. Each group consisted of 16 subjects, including GW and MIDW. Pain levels in the neck and lower back were measured for all participants using the visual analog scale (VAS). A dual digital inclinometer was used to measure the range of motion (ROM) in the neck and lower back three times, and the average was used for analysis. The independent t-test was used to compare between the wo groups. Cohen's d effect analysis was employed to determine the effect size. The significant level was set at 0.05. Results: In the MIDW, neck pain was significantly higher, and left cervical flexion was significantly decreased compared with the GW. There was no significant difference in lower back pain between the MIDW and GW. However, both lumbar flexion and extension, as well as lateral flexion, were significantly reduced in the MIDW compared with the GW. Conclusion: This study reveals that MIDW working in the automobile manufacturing industry have a greater risk of neck pain, limitation in left cervical flexion, and overall restriction in the ROM of the lower back compared with GW.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2024

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder worldwide, with a lifetime prevalence of up to 80%. Among nonsurgical treatments for chronic LBP, Korean medicine treatments are highly preferred, and pharmacopuncture therapy combining acupuncture and herbal medicine is widely used. However, no evidence-based study has focused on the use of various types of pharmacopuncture. Methods: The pragmatic randomized controlled clinical trial will include 44 participants; recruitment will start in July 2023. All participants will receive integrated Korean medicine treatment including acupuncture, cupping, and infrared therapy, and the intervention group will also receive pharmacopuncture. After 16 treatment sessions, twice a week for 8 weeks, follow-up assessments will be performed at week 9. As a pragmatic randomized controlled clinical protocol, the type, dose, and acupoints of acupuncture and pharmacopuncture are not determined in advance but are selected and recorded according to the clinical judgment of the Korean medicine doctor. Results: The primary outcome will be measured using a visual analog scale score, and the secondary outcomes include the Oswestry disability index, patient global impression of change, no worse than mild pain, and range of motion. Safety will be assessed by examining participants' self-reported adverse events and vital signs and conducting blood tests before and after the test. Conclusion: This study aims to provide clinical evidence of the effectiveness and safety of pharmacopuncture for chronic LBP.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2024

Background: Palatal injections are often painful. We aimed to compare topical ice and 20% benzocaine gel for pre-injection anesthesia before greater palatine nerve block (GPNB) injections. Methods: A randomized split-mouth clinical trial was conducted among patients aged 15-60-years needing bilateral GPNB injections. A total of 120 palatal sites from 60 patients were randomly allocated to Group A (topical ice) or Group B (20% benzocaine gel). Pain was evaluated using sound, eye, motor (SEM), and the visual analog scale (VAS) in both groups. Inferential analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The mean age of the participants was 20.5 ± 3.9 years. The median VAS score for group A was 11 (Q1 - Q3: 5.25 - 21.75), which was slightly higher than the 10 (Q1 - Q3: 4.0 - 26.75) reported in group B. However, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.955). The median SEM score for group A and group B was 3.5 (Q1 - Q3: 3.0 - 4.0) and 4.0 (Q1 - Q3: 3.0 - 4.0), respectively, which was statistically insignificant (P = 0.869). Conclusion: Using ice as a form of topical anesthetic for achieving pre-injection anesthesia before GPNB was as effective as 20% benzocaine gel.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.41-50
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was performed to compare the effects of Shinbaro pharmacopuncture therapy and bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy in lumbar disc herniation Methods : We compared treatment efficacy of 12 patients with Shinbaro pharmacopuncture therapy and 10 patients with bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy, all of whom were diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation using computed tomography(CT) or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). We performed a retrospective comparison and analysis during the course of 21 days since admission. To evaluate the treatment efficacy, we recorded the temperatures of the opposite back, hip, and legs with visual analog scale(VAS, back and legs), pain rating scale(PRS), Oswestry disability index(ODI) and digital infrared thermal imaging(DITI) based on patients' medical records. Results : Both treatments were effective in reducing pain and improving functions for lumbar disc herniation patients in terms of VAS, PRS, ODI, DITI. Shinbaro pharmacopuncture group showed slightly better results than the bee venom pharmacopuncture group, but the difference was not significant. Conclusions : For the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, it is suggested that Shinbaro pharmacopuncture therapy is thought to be as effective as bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy without side effects, although further study would be necessary.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.238-244
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• 2023

Background: Occipital neuralgia (ON) is an established risk factor for headaches in the posterior cervical region. Several conservative treatments by nerve decompression and pain relief are available for ON, but these treatments have limitations. Acupuncture treatment, which is known to demonstrate analgesic effects, involves various stimulation methods, and several studies have reported their clinical benefit. No recent systematic review (SR) has compared each acupuncture type for ON treatment. Thus, this SR aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of each acupuncture type for treating ON. Methods: We will identify relevant studies using electronic databases, including EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), Korean Medical Database, KoreaMed, and National Digital Science Library (NDSL) from the inception until August 2023. The primary outcome will include the numerical change of pain symptoms (visual analog scale and numerical rating scale) and effective rate. Safety and secondary outcomes will include adverse events and quality of life. We will compare the conservative treatment with the acupuncture treatment using network meta-analysis. The Cochrane Collaboration "risk of bias" tools will be used to assess the quality of included trials. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation will be used to examine the evidence level. Conclusion: This study will provide clinical evidence of several acupuncture types for ON and help clinicians decide on the best.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.213-220
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• 2023

Background: Third molar extraction is the most commonly performed minor oral surgical procedure in outpatient settings and requires regional anesthesia for pain control. Extraction of the maxillary molars commonly requires both posterior superior alveolar nerve block (PSANB) and greater palatine nerve block (GPNB), depending on the nerve innervations of the subject teeth. We aimed to study the effectiveness of PSANB alone in maxillary third molar (MTM) extraction. Methods: A sample size comprising 100 erupted and semi-erupted MTM was selected and subjected to study for extraction. Under strict aseptic conditions, the patients were subjected to the classical local anesthesia technique of PSANB alone with 2% lignocaine hydrochloride and adrenaline 1:80,000. After a latency period of 10 min, objective assessment of the buccal and palatal mucosa was performed. A numerical rating scale and visual analog scale were used. Results: In the post-latency period of 10 min, the depth of anesthesia obtained in our sample on the buccal side extended from the maxillary tuberosity posteriorly to the mesial of the first premolar (15%), second premolar (41%), and first molar (44%). This inferred that anesthesia was effectively high until the first molars and was less effective further anteriorly due to nerve innervation. The depth of anesthesia on the palatal aspect was up to the first molar (33%), second molar (67%), and lateromedially; 6% of the patients received anesthesia only to the alveolar region, whereas 66% received up to 1.5 cm to the mid-palatal raphe. In 5% of the cases, regional anesthesia was re-administered. An additional 1.8 ml PSANB was required in four patients, and another patient was administered a GPNB in addition to the PSANB during the time of extraction and elevation. Conclusion: The results of our study emphasize that PSANB alone is sufficient for the extraction of MTM in most cases, thereby obviating the need for poorly tolerated palatal injections.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.135-142
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was to investigate on the hominis placenta pharmacopuncture of FBSS patient who were diagnosed as the cauda equina syndrome which has been described as a complex of low back pain, bilateral sciatica, saddle anesthesia and hypoesthesia in the lower extremity with bladder and bowel incontinence. Methods : The patient was treated with hominis placenta parmacopuncture at Samchosu($BL_{22}$), Shinsu($BL_{23}$), Sangryo($BL_{31}$), Charyo($BL_{32}$), Jungryo($BL_{33}$) and Haryo($BL_{34}$) with oriental medical conservative treatment. We estimated by visual analog scale and Oswestry disability index and nerve level dermatome test for evaluate the effect of Hominis Placenta Pharmacopuncture with oriental conservative treatment. Results : After treatment, patient's visual analogue scale score, Oswestry disability index score, bilateral sciatica, saddle anesthesia and hypoesthesia in the lower extremity with bladder and bowel incontinence were generally decreased. Conclusions : The hominis placenta pharmacopuncture with oriental medical conservative treatment might be an effective method to treat the FBSS patient who were diagnosed as the cauda equina syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.75-91
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• 2010

Objectives : Although the controversy surrounding the biomechanics of the sacroiliac joint remains unresolved at this time, the clinical importance of this joint in the cause of back pain has been established since 1930's. Recently, there has been renewed interest in the sacroiliac joint. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of pulsed electromagnetic therapy(PEMT) with acupuncture therapy for patients, who were suffering from sacroiliac joint syndrome, and to conduct more researches in the usage of acupuncture therapy for treating sacroiliac joint syndrome. Methods : 25 patients, who were diagnosed as sacroiliac joint syndrome were selected. They were treated twice a week during 3 weeks. They were measured after all the treatment and firs week and fourth week after termination of treatment by using visual analogue scale(VAS) and Roland Morris disability index(RMDI). The VAS and RMDI patterns were analyzed by using 'pared T-test' and 'Kruskal-Wallis' test. Results : 1. Each times of PEMT with acupuncture therapy, there were statistical significance in improvement of VAS(p<0.05) and each times of therapy except 1st one, there were statistical significance in improvement of RMDI(p<0.05). 2. After 4th therapy, there were most significant improvement of VAS with RMDI(p<0.001), when we compared the change in VAS and RMDI before and after the each therapy. 3. There was no statistical significance in VAS and RMDI by onset, sex and age. Conclusions : The results indicate that pulsed electromagnetic therapy and acupuncture therapy had good effect on sacroiliac joint syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.539-548
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• 2022

Objective : Although full-endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-LIF) has been tried as the latest alternative technique to minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interobody fusion (MIS-TLIF) since mid-2010, the evidence is still lacking. We compared the clinical outcome and safety of Endo-LIF to MIS-TLIF for lumbar degenerative disease. Methods : We systematically searched electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library to find literature comparing Endo-LIF to MIS-TLIF. The results retrieved were last updated on December 11, 2020. The perioperative outcome included the operation time, blood loss, complication, and hospital stay. The clinical outcomes included Visual analog scale (VAS) of low back pain and leg pain and Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the radiological outcome included pseudoarthosis rate with 12-month minimum follow-up. Results : Four retrospective observational studies and one prospective observational study comprising 423 patients (183 Endo-LIF and 241 MIS-TLIF) were included, and the pooled data analysis revealed low heterogeneity between studies in our review. Baseline characteristics including age and sex were not different between the two groups. Operation time was significantly longer in Endo-LIF (mean difference [MD], 23.220 minutes; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.669-35.771; p=0.001). However, Endo-LIF resulted in less perioperative blood loss (MD, -144.710 mL; 95% CI, 247.941-41.478; p=0.023). Although VAS back pain at final (MD, -0.120; p=0.586), leg pain within 2 weeks (MD, 0.005; p=0.293), VAS leg pain at final (MD, 0.099; p=0.099), ODI at final (MD, 0.141; p=0.093) were not different, VAS back pain within 2 weeks was more favorable in the Endo-LIF (MD, -1.538; 95% CI, -2.044 to -1.032; p<0.001). On the other hand, no statistically significant group difference in complication rate (relative risk [RR], 0.709; p=0.774), hospital stay (MD, -2.399; p=0.151), and pseudoarthrosis rate (RR, 1.284; p=0.736) were found. Conclusion : Relative to MIS-TLIF, immediate outcomes were favorable in Endo-LIF in terms of blood loss and immediate VAS back pain, although complication rate, mid-term clinical outcomes, and fusion rate were not different. However, the challenges for Endo-LIF include longer operation time which means a difficult learning curve and limited surgical indication which means patient selection bias. Larger-scale, well-designed study with long-term follow-up and randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm and update the results of this systematic review.