• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.135-145
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• 2008

Objectives : To investigate therapeutic outcomes of back pain modalities in patients with disc herniation according to the duration by treated with herbal medicine, chuna, acupuncture, bee-venom acupuncture. Methods : We separated 36 patients with disc herniation into three group according to duration; acute patients within 4 week, subacute patients within 5-12 week, and chronic group within 13-24 week. 36 patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated with chuna therapy, acupuncture, bee-venom acupuncture one times a week and took herbal medicine after a meal two times daily. The patients' symptoms were assessed 1 week, 2 week, 4 week, 8 week by Visual analogue scale(VAS), Oswestry disability index(ODI), 36-Item short-form health survey(SF-36). Results : 1. ODI of disability of daily activities showed significantly decreased in acute stage group compared to subacute and chronic stage groups(P<0.05). 2. Physical functioning(PF), bodily pain(BP), social functioning(SF) score of SF-36 showed significantly increased in acute stage group compared to subacute and chronic stage groups(P<0.05). Conclusions : This study suggests that acute stage group compared to subacute and chronic stage groups in patients with lumbar disc herniation is the more effective to improve symptoms treated with herbal medicine, chuna therapy, acupuncture, bee-venom acupuncture.