• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.158-167
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• 2014

Objectives : The results from randomized controlled trials on traditional medicine have been negative or ambiguous. The appropriateness of the research methodology started to be questioned. However, the research methodology appropriate for studying traditional medicine has not been well-established. This study aims to explore the appropriate research methodologies for clinical studies on acupuncture. Methods : Clinical researches evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture for back pain were systematically searched and evaluated focusing on research methodology. The acupuncture treatment protocol is evaluated by 9 items which is individual treatment based on diagnosis, combining proximal and distal acupoints, exact location of acupoint, De Qi, adequate stimulation, duration of acupuncture, treatment sessions, treatment interval, and establishing relationship between patients and doctors. Results : Systematic review of acupuncture researches on low back pain suggested that observational studies and pragmatic trials rather than explanatory studies could incorporate these elements. Qualitative studies also could help understanding complex characteristics of acupuncture treatment which could not be evaluated by quantitative studies. Conclusions : In designing clinical researches on acupuncture, various study designs, especially observational study and pragmatic study, should be considered according to research objectives and subjects. The efforts to incorporate the core characteristics of acupuncture practiced in everyday clinical setting are also essential.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.96-106
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• 2024

This study aimed to provide the basis of treatment effects by analyzing randomized control trials (RCTs) on the use of thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) for low back pain that were published between February 2018 and July 2023. In total, 2,865 articles were retrieved from international and Korean databases. Nine of these articles were selected and evaluated based on the following categories: (1) year of publication, (2) type of disease, (3) sample size, (4) treatment interventions, (5) treatment frequency and duration, (6) insertion point and depth of thread embedding, (7) types and sizes of threads and needles, (8) evaluation indexes, (9) treatment outcomes, and (10) side effects. The risk of bias in RCTs was also assessed. This study also emphasizes the importance of further research on TEA for clinical treatment and the use of objective approaches. Furthermore, detailed method descriptions and results are important in determining the efficacy of TEA.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.117-124
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• 2017

Objectives Collaboration medicine means cooperate with western medicine and traditional korean medicine to treat the one disease. In Korea, Interest in collaboration medicine is increasing, But the number of studies is scare. Therefore we will conduct collaboration medicine study for the low back pain. Methods This study composes prospective cohort registry study. If the patients who need collaboration medicine by doctor come, we will ask regist this study. And patient select collaboration treatment group and single treatment group. Total 120 patients will recruit from collaboration pilot project hospitals. Each group patient will observed 4 weeks. Telephone research will conducted after 1 month from the last follow up. During the treatment, patients are treated usual treatment type of each medicine. Primary outcome is NRS and secondary outcomes are EQ-5D and ODI. We will analyze difference of 1 week and 4 week outcome result. Conclusions This study is the first large sample size study effect of collaboration medicine in Korea for low back pain. We check present collaboration system and improve collaboration system. Aim of this study is to find the effectiveness collaboration medicine for low back pain in the real condition. And we expect this pilot study will provide the clinical collaboration information and basis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.557-565
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acupuncture on trunk flexors compared with trunk extensors in patients with chronic low back pain. The experimental group was treated with acupuncture on trunk flexors. The control group was treated with acupuncture on trunk extensors. Acupuncture treatment was performed 12 sessions over the course of 6 weeks. Volunteers who satisfied the requirements were enrolled in the study. Chronic low back pain was evaluated based on the VAS for bothersomeness, VAS for pain intensity at every treatment and 8, 12 and 24 weeks after starting the treatments, and ODI, SF-36 and BDI before and after treatments and 8, 12 and 24 weeks after starting the treatments. The VAS score for bothersomeness significantly decreased after treatment for up to 24 weeks after starting the treatments in both group (p<0.05). The VAS score for bothersomeness in the experimental group decreased more rapidly than that of the control group with statistical significance (p<0.05). The VAS score for pain intensity, ODI, SF-36 and BDI significantly improved after treatment for up to 24 weeks after starting the treatments in both group (p<0.05). The VAS score for pain intensity, ODI, SF-36 and BDI in the experimental group showed more rapid improvement than those of the control group. But, there were no statistical significances. Treating trunk flexors using acupuncture was more effective in decreasing the degree of bothersomeness caused by chronic low back pain than treating trunk extensors with acupuncture. There is a need to perform further studies.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.91-104
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• 2018

Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Acupotomy on the pain reduction and functional improvement of patients with Acute low back pain. Methods We studied 60 patients with Acute low back pain with Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) 5 or higher in admission and had admitted to Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation of Daejeon University from March 1, 2017 to October 31, 2017. 30 patients had received Acupotomy combined Korean Medicine treatment(such as acupuncture, moxabustion, herbal medicine, etc) and the other 30 had received Korean Medicine treatment only. The analysis was conducted as a retrospective study which analyzes the patient's medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 24 program. We used NRS to evaluate pain reduction, used Range of Motion (ROM) and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) to evaluate function improvement, and used EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) and EuroQoL-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) to assess quality of life. Finally, a five-point Likert scale was used to assess treatment satisfaction. Results The analysis revealed that patients who were treated with Acupotomy showed statistically significant NRS reduction, improvement of ROM and RMDQ, improvement of EQ-5D and EQ-VAS and satisfaction compared to those who just recevied Korean Medicine treatment. Conclusions In conclusion, we found that the Acupotomy showed a positive effect on pain resolving, functional rehabilitation and quality of life in patients with Acute low back pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the benefits of thoracic manipulation and the trunk stability exercises on spine trunk flexibility and the pain index of chronic low back pain patients. METHODS: The study included 44 patients suffering from chronic low back pain. The participants were divided into two groups: the first group was assigned for trunk stability exercises (TSE), and the second group was randomly assigned TSE and thoracic manipulation at the same time (TSE+TM). Both groups carried out each assigned treatment thrice a week for 8 weeks. The study outcome was based on assessment of spine trunk flexibility and the pain index. Spine trunk flexibility was measured by spine flexion and extension through a range of motion and thoracic cage circumference. The pain index was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: Spine flexion and extension range of motion showed a significant difference within each group and between the groups before and after the treatment. The measurement of the thoracic cage circumference also showed a notable difference within each group and between the groups before and after the treatment. There was no change in the pain index. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that thoracic manipulation with the trunk stability exercises is an efficient treatment for improving the spine trunk flexibility and soothing pain for chronic low back pain patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2007

Purpose: The data was performed to evaluate the effect of conservative treatment in 30 patients aging from 21 to 71 with lumbar back pain. Methods: The effect of conservative treatment was analyzed with use of pain behavior scale, pain self assessment scale by Million Index in according to age, occupation, duration of symptom, symptom. Results: The occupation were desking job 43.4%, standing job 33.3%, house wife 23.3%. Duration of symptoms in over 2-5 months was 40.0%. The pain in below 1 months, classified by duration of symptoms, was reduced from 2.1 to 3.0 in pain behavior scale, 6.0 to 2.2 in pain self assessment scale(p<0.05). The pain in only lumbar back pain, classified by symptoms, was reduced from 2.0 to 3.0 in pain behavior scale, 6.6 to 2.4 in pain self assessment scale(p<0.05). Conclusion: The pain in over 9 months. classified by duration of physical therapy, was increase 2.0 in pain behavior scale, 4.0 in pain self assessment scale (p<0.05).

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.61-74
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find out the effects of flexion-distraction technique on low back pain. Methods : The 40 patients were divided into 2 groups: group a was treated except flexion-distraction technique and group B was treated with flexion-distraction technique. Both groups were treated with acupuncture treatment, physical therapy and manipulation. Patients were evaluated by McGill pain questionnaire-short form(SF-MPQ), visual analogue scale(VAS), Oswestry disability index(ODI) and pain disability index(PDI). Results : 1. Both Groups were significantly decreased in VAS and ODI after 3 weeks of treatment. 2. Group B compared with Group A was significantly decreased in SF-MPQ, VAS, ODI and PDI after 3 weeks of treatment. Conclusions : We found out that flexion-distraction technique is considered to be effective and useful on low back pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.149-157
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of mixed pharmacopuncture of $Jungsongouhyul$ and $Cervi$ $Pantotrichum$ $Cornu$ on low back pain patients. Methods : 83 patients with Low back pain who were treated in Dept. of Acupuncture and Moxibusion, Dongshin University Hospital in Suncheon from Sep. 1st, 2010 to August 31th, 2011, were divided into two groups. One group (52 patients) was treated with conservative treatments (acupuncture, herb med, cupping therapy and physical therapy) and mixed pharmacopuncture of $Jungsongouhyul$ and $Cervi$ $Pantotrichum$ $Cornu$ theraphy (PG) and the other group (31 patients) was treated with conservative treatments alone(NPG). To estimate the effects of treatments, visual analog scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were checked. Results : 1. In VAS, both of PG and NPG shows statistically significant improvement rate after 3rd treatment and 5th treatment. 2. In ODI, both of PG and NPG shows statistically significant improvement rate after 3rd treatment and 5th treatment. 3. In comparing VAS of PG and NPG, there was more significant improvement in PG than NPG after 3rd treatment and 5th treatment. 4. In comparing ODI of PG and NPG, there was more significant improvement in PG than NPG after 3rd treatment but no significant improvement between PG and NPG after 5th treatment. Conclusions : According to the study, it is thought that mixed pharmacopuncture of $Jungsongouhyul$ and $Cervi$ $Pantotrichum$ $Cornu$ theraphy is effective to low back pain patients, and further study is needed for the confirmation of the effect of mixed pharmacopuncture of $Jungsongouhyul$ and $Cervi$ $Pantotrichum$ $Cornu$.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.24 no.1 s.44
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• pp.63-86
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to find out some relationship between the positional change of mandible during treatment and the prognosis after treatment of ClassIII malocclusion. The patients selected for this study were sucessfully treated two patients, and three patients who wert also sucessful in active treatment but showed relapse during observation. Serial Cephalograms, photos, models, treatment record of these patients were analysed in each term of treatment and observation period. The results might be summarized as follows: The patient with swing back type in which mandible rotated posteroinferiorly during active treatment showed good dental md skeletal relationship during observation. Among the patients with Y-axis type, one who had harmonious growth between maxilla and mandible showed stable dental relationship during observation, the other who had not showed relapse. The swing back type was not changed during and after treatment but the patients who had Y-axis type were unchanged in some patients, and changed into forward type in the others. During active treatment, was lower facial height(ANS-Me) increased in all 5 patients, and in observation period the patients showing increase in lower facial height had stable occlusion but the others having decrease showed unstable dental relationship.