• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.111-116
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze research trends on the Korean medical treatment of wrist ganglion and to develop the way of treatment. Methods We searched the papers with a key word of 'wrist ganglion' in Korean database (NDSL, KISS, Korean traditional knowledge portal) and Pubmed. Results Total 5 studies were found. Major treatment method was the acupuncture including electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture and acupotomy. Minor treatments were moxibustion, wet cupping, herbal medicine and percutaneous aspiration. Conclusions Various treatment methods were used for curing wrist ganglion and they were effective. To map out the systemic treatment of Korean medicine on wrist ganglion, more clinical reports are needed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2015

Objectives The aim of this review is to analyze the study tendency in papers related with ankle sprain which are published in Korea. Methods I searched the OASIS and checked relevant Korean journals. I classified the papers by field of study, publish date, main treatment, evaluation methods and analysed the study tendency. Results 1. There are 9 case studies, 4 comparative effectiveness studies, 11 controlled studies. 2. The paper was published almost every year for more than one. 3. Treatment tool such as acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, acupotomy, heating-conduction acupuncture, etc. was used. 4. The most commonly used evaluation method is VAS (Visual Analog Scale) and AHS (Ankle-Hindfoot scale). Conclusions These results suggest that Korean medical treatment on the ankle sprain can be useful as cure medicine, but there are not sufficient evidence based papers, so there should be further studies.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2015

The aim of this review is to investigate studies of Korean medical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome published in Korea and the evidence of it's effects in order to suggest a better research method in the future. Four Korean web databases were searched by using key words such as 'carpal', and checked relevant Korean journals. The papers were classified into the field of study, publish date, diagnostic methods, evaluation methods and analysed the study tendency. There are 9 case studies, 4 controlled studies. The paper was published almost every year more than once. Acupucture, pharmacopuncture, acupotomy, warm needle acupuncture, taping, etc. were used as treatment tools. The two most commonly used diagnostic method for carpal tunnel syndrome are Phalen's test and Tinel's sign. The two most commonly used evaluation method are VAS(Visual Analog Scale) and subjective symptoms. Korean medical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome was effective in all studies. Korean medical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome was effective in all studies. So it is possible that Korean medical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is useful as therapeutic medicine, but there are not sufficient evidence based papers, so there should be further studies.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2022

A 50-year-old Korean male tour guide without any medical or family history complained of left knee pain. After receiving umbilical cord blood injection treatment, the pain gradually worsened. After being diagnosed with septic arthritis in the left knee, arthroscopic lavage, debridement, antibiotic treatment, and routine rehabilitation therapy were performed, but the symptoms persisted. In the hospital, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, acupotomy, Chuna manual therapy, and cupping therapy were performed in addition to the usual treatment for 59 days. To evaluate the patient's improvement, the numeric rating scale, EuroQol 5-dimension, pain disability index, and Lysholm knee scoring system were used. After treatment, the symptoms improved in all assessment tools, swelling, and range of motion of the joint. Through this study, it was found that complex Korean medical therapies may be effective for postoperative ankylosis in septic arthritis of the knee, and further studies are needed to clarify the therapeutic effect.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-29
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• 2023

Objectives To evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture for facet joint syndrome. Methods We conducted search across 9 electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL (CENTRAL), KoreaMed, Kmbase, Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS), ScienceOn, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang) to find clinical trials that used acupuncture as treatment for facet joint syndrome. The methodological quality of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) tool, while non-randomized controlled clinical trials (nRCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study (RoBANS) tool. Results Nine RCTs and one nRCT met our inclusion criteria. Fire needle was more effective than medial branch block in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS) after 1 month (p=0.02). Also, Fire needle was more effective than Ibuprofen in terms of VAS and oswestry disability index (ODI) (p<0.05). However, in the rest of the study results, the intervention group did not show a statistically significant difference than the control group. Conclusions Although our review found encouraging but limited evidence of acupuncture for facet joint syndrome, most of the studies included in the analysis were evaluated as methodologically high risk of bias. From now on further well-designed RCTs should be encouraged.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.319-328
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• 2023

Facial nerve palsy refers to sudden, unilateral lower motor neuron facial paralysis. This study aimed to determine the importance of neck treatment in the treatment of facial paralysis. A literature search was performed on six online databases and other sources until January 15, 2023. A total of 426 papers were retrieved. After excluding duplicated and inconsistent papers, papers not including cervical treatment, and experimental papers on animals, two papers were finally selected. The type of treatment method, therapeutic effects, assessment of the risk of bias in randomized controlled trials, and non-randomized controlled trials and side effects were evaluated. Chiropractic, manual therapy, facial meridian massage, and acupotomy were applied to the face and cervical spine region. The results showed that each treatment had a significant therapeutic effect through evaluation index measurement methods, such as the visual analog scale and Yanagihara's unweighted regional grading system. This study demonstrated the importance of the cervical spine area in the treatment of facial paralysis. However, this study has many limitations. Thus, high-quality randomized controlled comparative studies on the treatment of the cervical spine area only or studies that include cervical spine area treatment as an interventional treatment while performing oriental or comprehensive treatment are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.51-60
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• 2018

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the opinions of Korean medical doctors on how to elucidate possible remedial measures for expanding the health insurance benefits coverage item of Korean medicine (KM). Methods: An online survey was conducted to all members who had registered e-mail address in the association of Korean medicine from 1 to 17 November, 2016. Statistical analysis was performed and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were calculated by each subgroup. Results: A total of 743 members answered the questions and the response rate was 4.1%. The priorities for expanding health insurance benefits were as follows: thermographic imaging, Sasang constitution typing test, and pulse wave among examinations; pharamacopuncture, embedding acupuncture, and acupotomy among procedures; Chuna manual therapy, manual therapy for meridian muscle, and Daoyin exercise therapy among manual therapies; low-frequency electrical therapy, traction, paraffin bath, and light therapy among physical therapies; and aromatherapy, enema therapy, and color therapy among activities of KM. Conclusions: It should be covered by the national health insurance (NHI) of KM that thermographic imaging, pharmacoacupuncture, Chuna manual therapy, low-frequency electrical therapy, aromatherapy as a top priority. We also suggest that basic medical tests, such as blood, urine, or imaging, should be included in the coverage of the NHI of KM. It is necessary to review the expertise and public opinions about the plans and priorities for the conversion of the desired medical services to be covered by the NHI.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.214-218
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze domestic and foreign clinical research into ultrasound-guided Oriental medicine acupuncture. Methods: Ultrasound-guided Oriental medicine acupuncture studies were retrieved from PubMed, CNKI, KISS, NDSL, and OASIS. Results: Of 6,260 articles, 17 articles were selected. There was 1 article in 2004, 1 in 2008, 2 in 2011, 1 in 2012, 4 in 2013, 3 in 2016, 2 in 2017, and 3 in 2018. Of the 17 selected articles 6 articles were studies of omalgia, 4 of knee pain and 2 of peroneal nerve palsy. In addition, there was 1 article of occipital headache, 1 of neck pain, 1 of tarsal tunnel syndrome, 1 of angioma and 1 of hiccup. In these 17 studies the ultrasound frequency range where mentioned, was 5-14 MHz. Conclusion: This study provided basic data as reference for the design of more diversified and systematic clinical research in the domestic Oriental medicine community in the future.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.159-171
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• 2020

Objectives : This study aimed to understand the characteristics of the cases covered in the case studies on traditional Korean medicine (TKM) and furthermore, to provide basic information that can lead the discussion on 'what cases are worth reporting' in future case reports. Methods : Case reports on TKM were searched using the OASIS. The searched researches were analyzed according to the type of case, including information on disease/symptoms and intervention. Results : A total of 940 researches were searched. The most frequently reported type of case study was the report on the effectiveness of intervention. Case reports, which were only two cases in the 1970s, increased rapidly in the 2000s, and in particular, 314 cases within the last five years accounted for about 33% of the total literature. As for the number of studies by disease, the cases dealing with musculoskeletal diseases such as spine, shoulder and knee joint disorders were the most prevalent. Besides, there were many case reports related to cardiovascular, gynecological, cancer, psychiatric, and dermatological diseases. In a total of 51.9% of the included case reports, a combination of two or more Korean medical treatments such as acupuncture and herbal medicine was used at once, and western treatment was used with Korean medical treatment in 28.2% of the studies. The types of Korean medical treatments were varied, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, pharmacopuncture, electroacupuncture, Chuna, acupotomy, herbal medicine, external preparation, and psychotherapy. The main purpose of the publication of the included case reports was analyzed as a report of TKM treatment for rare diseases, or the application of TKM treatment to diseases or symptoms that are "uncommon in TKM treatment" even if it is not a rare disease. Conclusions : Case reports have the strength of generating new scientific hypotheses by detecting the basic needs and novelty of medicine. The current case studies of TKM do not seem to be sufficient to highlight these strengths. It is necessary to discuss which cases are reported as cases of patients worth publishing, and based on this, it is necessary to activate case studies of TKM by utilizing diagnostic tools and science technology.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.20-31
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• 2021

The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for patients with rotator cuff diseases. There were 12 electronic databases and 3 trial registries searched up to November 30th, 2019. All randomized trials were eligible, regardless of language, date of publication, or settings. The primary outcomes were pain, shoulder function, and proportion of improved participants assessed within 12 weeks of randomization of the trial. The Cochrane risk of bias for the studies was assessed. Effects sizes were presented as a risk ratio, mean difference, or standardized mean difference with a 95% confidence intervals. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was adopted to rate certainty of evidence. Of the 3,686 records screened, 28 randomized trials (2,216 participants) were included in this review. The types of acupuncture included manual acupuncture, dry needling, electroacupuncture, acupotomy, warm needle acupuncture, and fire needle acupuncture. All of the studies had an unclear or high risk of bias related to more than 1 domain. Significant benefits of acupuncture in terms of pain and shoulder function were observed in all comparisons, however, the proportion of improved participants was not described in 2 comparisons. There was substantial heterogeneity among meta-analyzed trials. No serious harm was observed. For primary outcomes, the overall certainty of evidence was very low. There was very low certainty of evidence for the benefits of acupuncture for patients with rotator cuff diseases. The safety of acupuncture remains unclear due to the incompleteness of reporting. Future well-designed randomized trials with transparent reporting are required.