• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.63-69
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of study is activation of lumbar multifidus muscle by needle EMG during shoulder flexion in chronic low back pain patients. The subject were consisted of 10 women patients with chronic low back pain and healthy asymtomatic subject 10 women. Methods : 10 women patients with chronic low back pain and healthy asymptomatic subject 10 women is voluntary participated for the research. Subjects were positioned in standing. The needle EMG were measured activation of multifidus. Needle electrode was used to 28 gauge. The shoulder flexion movement used to activate the multifidus was then measured. Results : Results of the analysis showed that asymptomatic subjects had significantly larger multifidus muscle activation compared with CLBP subjects during shoulder flexion. Conclusion : This study will be used as multifidus measurement method of patient with chronic LBP. The multifidus muscle in chronic LBP patient clinical significance. Most of chronic LBP patients have multifidus contraction pattern. Therefore chronic LBP patients necessary multifidus activation measurement with needle EMG.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study is change of lumbar multifidus muslce recorded simultaneously by ultrasound imaging during upper extremity functional movement in chronic low back pain patients. The subject were consisted of 10 women patients with chronic low back pain and healthy asymptomatic subject 10 women. Methods : 10 women patients with chronic low back pain and healthy asymptomatic subject 10 women is voluntary participated for the research. Subjects were positioned in standing. Multifidus size were measured from L4 vertebral segement. The ultrasound imaging apparatus(Sonoace 6000, Medison, Korea) was epuipped with a 5-MHz convex array transducer. The upper extremity lifting movement used to activate the multifidus was then measured. Results : Results of the analysis showed that at the L4 vertebral leves, healthy asymptomatic subjects had significantly larger multifidus muscle compared with chronic LBP subjects. Conclusion : This study will be used as treatment method of patient with chronic LBP. The multifidus muscle in chronic LBP patients clinical significance. Most of chronic LBP patients have multifidus contraction pattern. Especially multifidus contraction in L4 vertebral segement. So chronic LBP patients necessary multifidus muscle release treatment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.33-45
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• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to compare the effects of spinal manipulation combined with medication on low back pain (LBP), range of motion, and disability in patients with chronic LBP. Methods : Twenty patients with chronic LBP were included in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to the spinal manipulation with medication group (n=10) or the medication only group (n=10). The intervention group received spinal manipulation for 15 minutes, twice a week, and took medication twice a day for eight weeks. The control group received the medication twice daily for eight weeks. Pain intensity assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), range of motion, and disability due to LBP assessed using the Oswestry disability index were measured before and after the intervention. Results : The intervention group showed a significant improvement in pain intensity compared to the control group (p<.05), and the intervention and control groups significantly improved low back pain after the intervention (p<.05). The intervention group showed a significant improvement in the range of motion in flexion, extension, right lateral flexion, left lateral flexion, and right rotation (p<.05). The intervention group also showed a significant improvement in the change of disability in total score, pain intensity, personal care, lifting and standing compared to the control group (p<.05). Conclusion : This study showed that the combination of spinal manipulation and medication can benefit patients with chronic LBP, as evidenced by significant improvements in pain intensity, ROM, and disability. These findings suggest that utilizing both spinal manipulation and medication can positively affect individuals with chronic LBP. The results of this study should be applied in clinical settings to optimize treatment outcomes in patients with chronic LBP.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.359-377
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• 2020

Background: This study investigated whether current smoking and a higher nicotine dependency were associated with chronic low back pain (LBP), lumbar related leg pain (sciatica) and/or radicular neuropathic pain. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 patients (mean age, 60.1 ± 13.1 yr). Demographic data, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) neuropathic pain grade, STarT Back tool, and the Fagerström test were completed. A control group (n = 50) was recruited. Results: There was a significant difference between current smokers and nonsmokers in the chronic LBP group in the mean pain score (P = 0.025), total STarT Back score (P = 0.015), worst pain location (P = 0.020), most distal pain radiation (P = 0.042), and in the IASP neuropathic pain grade (P = 0.026). There was a significant difference in the mean Fagerström score between the four IASP neuropathic pain grades (P = 0.005). Current smoking yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 3.071 (P = 0.011) for developing chronic LBP and sciatica, and an OR of 4.028 (P = 0.002) for obtaining an IASP "definite/probable" neuropathic pain grade, for both cohorts. The likelihood for chronic LBP and sciatica increased by 40.9% (P = 0.007), while the likelihood for an IASP neuropathic grade of "definite/probable" increased by 50.8% (P = 0.002), for both cohorts, for every one unit increase in the Fagerström score. Conclusions: A current smoking status and higher nicotine dependence increase the odds for chronic LBP, sciatica and radicular neuropathic pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.615-621
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare chronic LBP patients and asymptomatic subjects on measures of multifidus size (cross-sectional area;CSA, thickness) and symmetry (proportional difference of relatively larger side to smaller side). Methods : Data were obtained from 12 asymptomatic subjects without a prior history of LBP (8 females, 4 males), and a retrospective audit was undertaken of records from 12 chronic low back pain patients (8 females, 4 males). CSA and Thickness of the lumbar multifidus muscles was measured from axial T1-weighted magnetic resonance images(MRI). Results : The results of the analysis showed that chronic LBP patients had significantly smaller multifidus CSA and thickness than asymptomatic subjects at L4-5 vertebral levels(p<.05). The asymmetry between sides was seen at L4- L5 vertebral level in patients with chronic low back pain presentations(p<.05). Conclusions : MRI provided a quantitative measure of change between asymptomatic subjects and chronic low back pain patients of multifidus muscle. MRI identified significant differences in cross-sectional area and thickness and helps to evaluate clinically and plan the treatment modalities of LBP.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.212-219
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• 2017

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a major problem for office workers. Individuals adopting poor postures during prolonged sitting have a considerably increased risk of experiencing LBP. This study aimed to investigate seat pressure distribution characteristics, i.e., average pressure, peak pressure ratio, frequency of postural shift, and body perceived discomfort (BPD), during 1 hour of sitting among office workers with and without chronic LBP. Methods: Forty-six participants (chronic LBP = 23, control = 23) typed a standardized text passage at a computer work station for an hour. A seat pressure mat device was used to collect the seat pressure distribution data. Body discomfort was assessed using the Body Perceived Discomfort scale. Results: Office workers with chronic LBP sat significantly more asymmetrically than their healthy counterparts. During 1-hour sitting, all workers appeared to assume slumped sitting postures after 20 minutes of sitting. Healthy workers had significantly more frequent postural shifts than chronic LBP workers during prolonged sitting. Conclusion: Different sitting characteristics between healthy and chronic LBP participants during 1 hour of sitting were found, including symmetry of sitting posture and frequency of postural shift. Further research should examine the roles of these sitting characteristics on the development of LBP.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.482-487
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• 2014

Objective : We assessed the life-time prevalence (LTP) of chronic low back pain (LBP) in young Korean males. We also evaluated the relationship between lumbar spinal lesions and their health related quality-of-life (HRQOL). Methods : A cross-sectional, self-reported survey was conducted in Korean males (aged 19-year-old) who underwent physical examinations for the conscript. We examined 3331 examinees in November 2014. We included 2411 subjects, who accepted to participate this study without any comorbidities. We interviewed using simple binary questions for their LBP experience and chronicity. HRQOL was assessed by Short-Form Health-Survey-36 (SF-36) in chronic LBP and healthy control groups. Radiological assessment was performed in chronic LBP group to determine whether there were any pathological causes of their symptoms. Results : The LTP of chronic LBP was 13.4%. Most (71.7%) of them didn't have any lumbar spinal lesions (i.e., non-specific chronic LBP). The SF-36 subscale and summary scores were significantly lower in subjects with chronic LBP. Between specific and non-specific chronic LBP group, all physical and mental subscale scores were significantly lower in specific chronic LBP group, except mental health (MH) subscale score. In MH subscale and mental component summary score, statistical significant differences didn't appear between two groups (p=0.154, 0.126). Conclusion : In Korean males 19 years of age, the LTP of chronic LBP was 13.4%, and more than two-thirds were non-specific chronic LBP. Chronic LBP had a significant impact on HRQOL. The presence of lumbar spinal pathoanatomical lesions affected mainly on the physical aspect of HRQOL. It influenced little on the mental health.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to identify pain, disability, anxiety, depression and educational needs between acute and chronic low back pain groups. Methods: A total of 153 patients aged 18 to 64, recruited from S-neurosurgical clinic for low back pain in Gyeonggi-do. Out of 153 subjects, 70 were Acute Low Back Pain (ALBP) group and 83 were Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) group. The collected data was analyzed using the SAS System V 9.4 program by chi-square test/Fisher's exact test and t-test. Results: The pain and disability scores were higher in ALBP group while the depression score was higher in CLBP group. The educational needs score in the area for the time for lumbar operation was higher in CLBP group. In the Low Back Pain (LBP) treatment management, ALBP group visited clinic (60.0%) most frequently and CLBP group visited both clinic & traditional medicine (66.3%) regularly. Conclusion: In order to minimize the progression from acute to chronic LBP, it is necessary for patients who visited the clinic to be accompanied with an education program that reflects educational needs of patients and with proven alternative therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.49-62
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study investigated the influence of a specific hip joint exercise program on the characteristics of chronic low back pain (LBP), hip joint range of motion (ROM), and performance level in amateur golfers with LBP. METHODS: The study included 28 adult male amateur golfers with LBP and reduced internal rotation (IR) of the lead side hip joint. Subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental (EG) (n=14) or control group (CG) (n=14). The Numerical Rating Scale score for pain, ROM of the hip joint and trunk rotation, performance parameters for golfing were evaluated. A specific exercise program designed to improve IR of the lead side hip joint was performed by the EG, but not the CG. Post-intervention evaluation was performed and the collected data were analyzed. RESULTS: After the intervention, the severity of LBP was significantly reduced (p<.05) and the IR ROM of the lead side hip joint was significantly increased (p<.01) in the EG. Moreover, the trunk rotation range was significantly increased in the EG (p<.01). The drive distance was significantly difference between the EG and CG (p<.05). CONCLUSION: A specific hip joint exercise program can help to reduce pain level and improve performance level in amateur golfers with LBP and increased IR ROM of the lead side hip joint. A significant increase in ROM of the lead side hip joint reduce LBP and was related to driving distance in the EG.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.241-250
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• 2009

Objectives : To study autonomic nervous system dysfunction of Low Back Pain(LBP) patients, using spectral analysis of Heart Rate Variability(HRV). Methods : HRV of 190 patients was measured and seperated into two groups, those with LBP(n=95) and healthy controls(n=95). HRV was measured by SA-6000(Medicore, Korea) for 5 minutes after 5 minutes' resting. Results : 1. Mean heart rate(MHRT) of the experimental group was slightly higher than that of the control group, but did not show significant difference(P=0.428). The square root of the mean squared differences of successive normal-to-normal intervals(RMSSD), logarithmic very low frequency power(Ln VLF) and low frequency power/high frequency power ratio(LH/HF ratio) were not significantly low between experimental group and control group(P=0.16, 0.130, 0.537). 2. The standard deviation of all the normal-to-normal intervals(SDNN), logarithmic total power(Ln TP), logarithmic low frequency power(Ln LF) and logarithmic high frequency power(Ln HF) were significantly low between experimental group and control group(P=0.03, 0.005, 0.001, 0.007). 3. Ln LF of acute group was significantly low compared with those of chronic group(P= 0.039). Conclusions : This study suggests the activity and imbalance of autonomic nervous system in LBP is low. Also sympathetic nervous system of acute LBP is lower than that of chronic LBP. Further study of HRV related to LBP is needed in the clinical medicine.