• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2020

Background: Opioids can present intolerable adverse side-effects to patients who use these analgesics to mitigate chronic pain. In this retrospective analysis, cooled radiofrequency (CRF) denervation was evaluated to provide pain and disability relief and reduce opioid use in patients with sacroiliac joint (SIJ) derived low back pain (LBP). Methods: Twenty-seven patients with pain from SIJ refractory to conservative treatments, and taking opioids chronically (> 3 mo), were included. Numeric rating scale (NRS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores were collected at 1, 6, and 12 months post-procedure. Opioid use between baseline and each follow-up visit was compared for the entire group and for those who experienced successful (pain reduction ≥ 50% of baseline value) or unsuccessful CRF denervation. Results: Severe initial mean pain (NRS score: 7.7 ± 1.0) and disability (ODI score: 50.1 ± 9.0), and median opioid use (morphine equivalent daily dose: 40 ± 37 mg) were significantly reduced up to 12 months post-intervention. CRF denervation was successful in 44.4% of the patients at 12 months. Regardless of procedure success, patients demonstrated similar opioid reductions and changes in opioid use at 12 months. Two patients (7.4%) experienced neuritis following CRF denervation. Conclusions: CRF denervation of the SIJ can safely elicit pain and disability relief, and reduce opioid use, regardless of intervention success. Future studies may support CRF denervation as a dependable therapy to alleviate opioid use in patients with SIJ-derived LBP and show that opioid use measurements can be a surrogate indicator of pain.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2016

Purpose: This study examined whether a single application of a lumbar flexion muscle energy technique (MET) could significantly influence pain, functional status, and range of motion in chronic back pain patients with restricted active trunk flexion. Methods: Twenty volunteers were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. Ten subjects in the control group received no treatment. Ten subjects in the experimental group received five sessions with the muscle energy technique, five times per week for two weeks. Outcomes were measured before and after two weeks of treatment in both groups. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Range of motion was measured using the sit-and-reach test (SRT). Functional disability levels were assessed using the Korean version of the Oswestry Disability Index (KODI). Results: The experimental group showed a significant difference in VAS, KODI, and SRT between pre- and post-treatment (p < .05), while the control group showed no significant changes. The changes in VAS, ODI, and SRT were statistically significant between the groups pre- and post-treatment (p < .05). Conclusion: This muscle energy technique is clinically effective for chronic low back pain patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.111-119
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• 2017

Objectives Clinical pathway (CP), is management plans that display goals for patients and have led to improve outcomes for many diseases. In Korea, Interest in Korean medicine's stabilization (Clinical pathway, Clinical Practice Guideline) is increasing, But the number of studies is scare. Method and Analysis This trials composes nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design to conduct clincal pathway trial for the acute pain after back surgery. The subjects were 10 control patients with back surgery, and 10 experimental patients with application of integrative CP. Each group patient will observed 6 weeks. We check validation of CP. Also we compared the patient's status using the pain, function, Quality of life index between the two groups. Discussion This trial is the first CP for the acute pain after back surgery using integrative medicine concepts. Aim of this trial is to find the effectiveness and validity of clincal pathway for acute pain after back surgery.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.361-370
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• 2012

The Purpose of this study was to find out the effects of frequency and intensity of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) on the patients with chronic low back pain. The subjects were 32 patients with chronic low back pain average age 39.19 (${\pm}12.96$)years. The duration of chronic low back pain was 8.57 (${\pm}3.07$)months. The treatments were given 15 minutes once a day five a week for two weeks. to low back. Lumbar range of motion(ROM) and Oswestry Disabilitv Index(ODI)) was evaluated before and after TENS application. Each group was compared using Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test. The results were as followings: Each group showed significant effect. High intensity group showed more effect in low frequency group. High intensity group showed more effect in high frequency group. Therefore, the high intensity can be used more effectively with high frequency for treating chronic low back pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.235-246
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare and assess the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise on the balance ability of young college studets with low back pain after having performed spinal stabilization exercise by using 3-dimensional air-balance system and gym ball. Methods: The subjects of this study were 34 low back patients in their early twenties. They were divided into two groups: 3-dimensional lumbar stabilization exercise group(N=17) and gym ball lumbar stabilization exercise group(N=17). The period of the intervention was for five weeks. VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) for pain test, ODI(Oswestry Disability Index) for ADL limitation test, Tetrax system for static balance test, and Air-balance system 3D for dynamic balance test were used as evaluation tools for this study. Results: Pain showed significant decrease in both groups after having performed the experiment, but ADL limitation of the groups did not show any remarkable difference between before and after the experiment. Dynamic balance ability in the 8-directional angle comparison test significantly increased in all directions except for the backward, left-backward, and right-backward directions. As for dynamic balance ability in the 8-directional postural test, 3D exercise group showed statistically significant reduction in every direction while gym ball exercise group did not(p<.05). However, when it comes to static balance ability in the weight distribution and stability test, there was not significantly change between pre and post test in both groups. Conclusion: This study shows 3-dimensional lumbar stabilization exercise is more effective in the lumbar stabilization of coordinated movement than gym ball exercise, which may imply that 3D air-balance system can be used for the therapeutic treatment of body imbalance for patients with low back pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 2022

Background: Low back and neck pain are two of the most common medical problems in the adult population. It is estimated that between 70% and 80% adults experience an episode of low back pain at least once during their lifetime. Objects: This study aimed to compare the effects of various stretching exercises and muscle energy techniques used for treatment of iliopsoas, quadratus lumborum, and hamstrings of patients with low back pain. Methods: A total of 52 subjects were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 17), the muscle energy technology group (METG, n = 19), and the stretching exercise group (SEG, n = 16). Interventions were performed twice a week for 4 weeks. Outcomes were measured before and after 4 weeks of treatment in the three groups, using the Korean version of the Oswestry Disability Index, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire (FABQ), the Finger to Floor test (FTF), the Modified-Modified Schober Test (MMS), and the Trunk Flexion Range of Motion test. Results: This study showed significant reduction in the pre-test and post-test KODI, VAS, and FABQ scores in all the three groups (p < 0.05). The KODI, VAS, FABQ and FTF assessed in this study showed interactions between the groups and the measurement time point (p < 0.01). After intervention, the KODI, VAS, FABQ and FTF in the SEG and METG were significantly higher (p < 0.05), and there was no difference between the METG and SEG. MMS and HFROM test showed no difference between the three groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: KODI, VAS, FABQ and FTF showed significant improvement after basic physical therapy, muscle energy technique, and stretching exercise intervention. And there was no significant difference in the intervention effect between the muscle energy group and the stretching exercise group.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.29-45
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level, hip abductor strength (HAS), number of positive lumbar instability tests, and dynamic balance (DB) by applying lumbar stabilization exercises according to the presence or absence of gluteus medius muscle weakness in chronic lower back pain (CLBP) patients with lumbar instability. METHODS: Thirty-five CLBP patients with lumbar instability were divided into the gluteus medius weakness (n = 18) and gluteus medius non-weakened (n = 17) groups using the gluteus medius manual muscle test. Intervention applied conservative physical therapy and lumbar stabilization exercises to both groups that lasted three times a week for four weeks. To compare the intervention effects, the quadruple visual analog scale (QVAS), the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI), fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ), HAS, lumbar instability tests positive response counter (LIC), and DB were measured. RESULTS: Significant differences were shown for QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ, HAS, LIC, and DB for both groups pre- and post-intervention (p < .05). Compared to the gluteus medius weakness group, the gluteus medius non-weakened group showed a significant difference (p < .05) in the changes in QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ-W, FABQ-total, and HAS. CONCLUSION: In CLBP patients with lumbar instability, having gluteus medius weakness was less effective in improving lumbar stabilization exercise than gluteus medius non-weakness regarding pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level excluding physical activity, and hip abductor strength. Therefore, additional gluteus medius strengthening exercises are necessary for patients with lumbar instability and gluteus medius muscle weakness.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-24
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• 2005

Objective : The aim of this was to investigate the effect of warming acupuncture therapy on patients who had suffered from low back pain. Methods : The 42 person who had hospitalized in Jaseng hospital were rendomized into two groups. We treated 22 persons by warming acupuncture on every other day. The others were treated by only traditional acupuncture therapy alone. VAS(Visual Analogue Scale), ODI(Oswestry Disability Index) and the angle of SLR(Straight Leg Raising test) were measured on each week from admission for four weeks. Results : 1. Sample group showed significantly more improvement than control group at 3 weeks in ODI score. 2. Sample group showed significantly more improvement than control group at 2 weeks in VAS score. 3. The angle of SLR test was not significantly different between two groups, but there was a tendency of increasing on sample group. Conclusions : According to above results, warming acupuncture therapy was more effective on the treatment of low back pain than general oriental medical therapy without it.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of treating low back pain patients with Foot acupuncture. Methods : Clinical study was conducted to 40 patients who were treated in Dept. of Acupuncture and Moxibusion, Woosuk University Hospital from March 1 to December 31, 2010. Subject were randomly divided into two groups. In one group(test group), patients were treated with both acupuncture and Foot acupuncture. And in the other group(control group), patients were treated with acupuncture. To estimate the efficacy of treatments, Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were checked. 12 patients were excluded and we investigated 14 patients of control group and 14 patients of test group entirely. Results : 1. In both two groups, VAS and ODI of patients were decreased significantly. 2. ODI of patients in test group were decreased more significantly than ODI of patients in control group. Conclusions : We suggest that cotreatment of acupuncture and foot acupuncture on low back pain patients can be recommended as a useful therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41
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• pp.168-175
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• 2024

The butterfly vertebra is a rare congenital anomaly of the spine, which arises from an asymmetric fusion defect in the embryonic vertebral column. This report delineates an integrative Korean medicine treatment administered to two patients who presented with low back pain associated with asymptomatic butterfly vertebrae. The patients received comprehensive treatment comprising acupuncture, Chuna therapy, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, and cupping therapy. The efficacy of the treatments was assessed utilizing diverse parameters, including a numerical rating scale, range of motion of the lumbar spine, Oswestry Disability Index, EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level, and patient global impression of change. After the treatment, a notable improvement was noted in the evaluated indicators. These positive outcomes suggest that integrative Korean medicine treatment is suitable for patients experiencing low back pain associated with asymptomatic butterfly vertebrae.