• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.105-113
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• 2006

Objectives : To establish an effective collaborate medicine treatment of acupuncture and western medicine for treating frozen shoulder patients. Methods : 59 voluntary patients were randomly assigned to Eastern treatment group(E group, n=22), Western treatment group(W group, n=17) and East-West treatment group(EW group, n=20). The E group received acupuncture treatment on LI15, TE14, GB21 and Master Dong's acupuncture points, Shin-gwan and Gyun-joong, twice a week for 4 weeks. The W group received suprascapular nerve block, subacromial injection and trigger point injection, twice a week for 4 weeks. The EW group received acupuncture and injection treatment including nerve block All groups were instructed to practice self exercise during their daily lives. Evaluations were made before treatment and after treatment based on the change in shoulder Range of Motion(ROM) and the patient's satisfaction concerning the treatment was measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). The obtained data were analyzed and compared. Results : The patient's satisfaction scores were E group 5.67, W group 7.73 and EW group 7.67. The E group and the EW group showed significant improvement in abbduction, adduction and flexion(p<0.05). The W group showed significant improvement in adduction(p<0.05). Abduction significantly improved(p<0.05) in the EW group compared to E group and W group. Flexion also showed improvement in the EW group, but the difference among the 3 groups was statistically insignificant. The three group's difference of change in extension and adduction was insignificant(p>0.05). Conclusion : Acupuncture and nerve block alone significantly improved ROM in frozen shoulder patients. Also collaborate treatment of acupuncture and nerve block significantly improved ROM in frozen shoulder patients. But the difference of the three treatments were significant only for improving abduction(p<0.05).