• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.139-154
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• 2006

Objective : This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Acupuncture, Bee Venom Acupuncture (BVA) and Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture (BVHA) on post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. Methods : 30 patients were randomly allocated into Acupuncture group, BVA group and BVHA group and was monitored weekly for 4 weeks; initial($T_0$), 1 week($T_1$), 2 weeks($T_2$), 3 weeks($T_3$) and 4 weeks($T_4$). Results : Visual analogue scale of shoulder pain showed significant decrease in BVA and BVHA groups compared to the Acupuncture group at T4 evaluation. Painless passive ROM of shoulder external rotation and Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment of Upper Limb motor function showed significant increase in all groups. Modified Ashworth scale of the spasticity of upper limb showed no differences between the three groups. Conclusion : BVA & BVHA appears to be an effective in treating post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. Further clinical studies must be done to obtain more concrete findings.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.37-47
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• 2011

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture on the post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. Methods : 40 patients with post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain were randomly divided into 2 groups : study group(sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture treatment group, n=21) and Control group(normal saline treatment group, n=19). They were monitored for 4 weeks, followed up with visual analog scale(VAS), pain rating score(PRS), painless passive shoulder range of movement(PROM) and Fugl-Meyer Motor assessment(FMMA) at before treatment(T0), after 2 weeks(T2) and after 4 weeks(T4). Results : 1. Study group and control group showed pain decrease, but study group showed more significant effectiveness in VAS and PRS than control group. 2. Although there is no significant difference in PROM between study group and control group, both groups showed increase of PROM, and study group had some effectiveness on abduction and flexion as the treatment progresses. 3. There is no significant difference in FMMA between study group and control group. Conclusions : This study suggests that sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture has significant analgesic effect on the post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. And it seems that sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture can be applicable to improve PROM in hemiplegia patients with stroke. Further studies based on larger population and long term follow-up are needed to confirm this suggestion.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.69-80
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• 2006

Objectives : The occurrence of shoulder pain after attack of stroke varies from 15% to about 80% in patients. Hemiplegic shoulder pain has been shown to affect stroke outcome in a negative way that it interferes with recovery after a stroke. These following processes have been all postulated as causes of a shoulder pain: glenohumeral subluxation, spasticity, impingement, soft tissue trauma, glenohumeral capsulitis, shoulder hand syndrome. And stroke patients may suffer from pain caused by stroke itself(central post-stroke pain). The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Bee venom therapy for shoulder pain in stroke patients. Methods : To evaluate the effectiveness of Bee Venom Acupuncture Therapy, 40 patients were allocated into control and treatment group. They were monitored for 3 weeks and followed up with VAS score(with the interval of Initial(YAS1)), 1 week later(VAS2), 2 weeks later(VAS3), 3 weeks later(VAS4), Motor Grade and Passive ROM. Results : VAS score decrease in treatment group compared to control group. Bee Venom Acupuncture Therapy seems to decrease hemiplegic shoulder pain and this effect was statistically significant after 3 weeks. Therefore this therapy could be recommended for the treatment of patients with shoulder pain after stroke and further extensive clinical studies are expected. Conclusion : We suggest that GDS oral administration and electro-acupuncture at $BL_{52}$ & $GB_{39}$ are available for prevention and curing about the postmenopausal osteoporosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.15-27
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of cotreatment with $Samgieum-gagam$, acupuncture and sweet bee venom acupuncture on post-stroke shoulder pain. Methods : The subjects in this study were 43 patients with post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. These patients were randomly divided into four groups : the group treated with acupuncture, the group cotreated with acupuncture and sweet bee venom acupuncture, the group cotreated with acupuncture and $Samgieum-gagam$, the group cotreated with acupuncture, sweet bee venom acupuncture and Samgieumgagam, They were treated for 4 weeks, and the effectiveness was assessed by visual analogue scale(VAS), Fugl-Meyer motor assessment(FMMA), painless passive ROM of shoulder external rotation(PROM), Modified Ashworth sacle(MAS) and Satisfaction. Results : All groups showed significant change in VAS, FMMA and PROM. The group cotreated with acupuncture, sweet bee venom acupuncture and $Samgieum-gagam$ showed more effectiveness in VAS and FMMA than the group treated with acupuncture. There was no significant difference in MAS among groups. Conclusions : This study suggests that cotreatment with $Samgieum-gagam$, acupuncture and sweet bee venom acupuncture is more effective than acupuncture treatment only on post-stroke shoulder pain. Further study based on many other combination methods, larger population, and long term follow-up is needed to confirm this suggestion.