• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.655-659
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• 2007

Purpose : The aim of this study was to document the causes of chronic abdominal pain in children referred to a hospital setting and evaluate the frequency and characteristics of functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) classified by Rome III criteria. Methods : One hundred thirty two patients with chronic abdominal pain were evaluated. Examinations were performed in order to find organic causes in patients when organic disease was suspected. Results : Among the 132 patients, 20 patients (15.2%) had organic diseases and 112 patients (84.8%) were diagnosed as having FGIDs. Functional dyspepsia was the most common cause of FGIDs, followed by irritable bowel syndrome. Overlap of some FGIDs was observed in seven patients (5.3%). Conclusion : FGIDs are the main causes of chronic abdominal pain in children and functional dyspepsia was the most prevalent disorder.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.57-60
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• 2015

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) is a syndrome of chronic biliary pain or recurrent pancreatitis due to the functional obstruction of the pancreaticobiliary flow. We report a case of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for chronic abdominal pain due to SOD. The patient had a history of cholecystectomy and had suffered from chronic right upper quadrant abdominal pain. The patient had been diagnosed as having SOD. The patient was treated with opioid analgesics and nerve blocks, including a splanchnic nerve block. However, two years later, the pain became intractable. We implanted percutaneous SCS at the T5-7 level for this patient. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain and the amount of opioid intake decreased. The patient was tracked for more than six months without significant complications. From our clinical case, SCS is an effective and alternative treatment option for SOD. Further studies and long-term follow-up are necessary to understand the effectiveness and the limitations of SCS on SOD.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2017

Purpose: This study attempts to identify the effects of abdominal strength training using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the balance ability and pain level of patients with chronic lower back pain. Methods: A total of 30 patients with chronic lower back pain were randomly divided into either experimental group I (n=10), who received abdominal strength training using PNF, experimental group II (n=10), who received abdominal strengthening training, or the control group (n=10), who received conventional physiotherapy. The interventions were applied three times a week for six weeks. We measured Berg's balance scale (BBS) in order to investigate the change in balance ability, while we measured the visible analogue scale (VAS) to determine the severity of pain. We conducted a paired t-test to compare the within-group change before and after the intervention. For the comparison of the between-group difference, we used a one-way ANOVA test. Tukey's test was used as a post hoc test. The statistical significance level was set at ${\alpha}=0.05$ for all the variables. Results: Experimental group I and experimental group II showed a significant within-group change in BBS (p<0.01). A statistically significant between-group difference was observed in terms of the change in BBS (p<0.01). According to the results of the post hoc Tukey test, experimental group I and experimental group II showed a more effective change in BBS than the control group. Experimental group I, experimental group II, and the control group all showed a significant within-group change in the VAS (p<0.01). There was a statistically significant between-group difference in terms of the change in the VAS (p<0.01). According to the results of the post hoc Tukey test, the change in the VAS was more effective in experimental group I than in experimental group II and the control group. Conclusion: In this study, the application of abdominal strength training using PNF for subjects who complained of chronic lower back pain proved effective in improving their balance ability and reducing pain. We therefore believe that this training method could be applied as a useful program for patients with chronic lower back pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.16-31
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to assess the fatigue in lumbar and abdominal muscles in patients with chronic low back pain compared with normal subjects using spectral analysis with mean power frequency and median power frequency. The experimental group consisted of twenty subjects who had experienced chronic low back pain for over one year after the onset day. A control group consisted of twenty normal subjects with no history of low back pain. All subjects stood in an apparatus to perform sustained contraction in the lumbar and abdominal muscles for 30 seconds with 60% maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The resulting electromyographic (EMG) recorded time serial data were transformed into frequency serial data by Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). The results were as follows: 1) lumbar muscles measured, the frequency change ratio of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly greater for experimental group compared with control group group (p<0.05). In measured two abdominal muscles (inferior rectus abdominis, obliquus externus abdominis) except superior rectus abdominis, the frequency change ratio of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly greater for experimental group compared with control group (p<0.05). 2) In all three (longissimus thoracis, iliocostalis lumborum, multifidus) lumbar muscles measured, the initial frequency value of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly lower for the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). In the two (inferior rectus abdominis, obliquus externus abdominis) abdominal muscles measured (superior rectus abdominis not included), the initial frequency value of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly lower for the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). These results suggest that in patients with chronic low back pain there is a trend for more fatigue to occur in both lumbar and abdominal muscles than in the normal control group. This would seem to suggest that in treatment programs for patients with chronic low back pain, improvement of endurance in all trunk muscles should be considered.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.304-309
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• 2020

An 18-year-old woman with annular pancreas and duodenal duplication presented with recurrent acute pancreatitis and underwent a resection of duodenal duplication. However, the patient experienced recurrent abdominal pain after resection. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a dilatation of the peripheral pancreatic duct and stenosis and malformation of both the Wirsung's and Santorini's duct due to multiple stones. The modified puestow procedure was performed. The main pancreatic ducts in the body and tail were opened, and the intrapancreatic common bile duct was preserved. A Roux-en-Y pancreatico-jejunostomy was performed for reconstructing the pancreaticobiliary system after removing the ductal protein plug. The patient experienced no abdominal pain, no significant elevation of the serum amylase and lipase levels, and no stone formation during the 2 years of follow-up. This procedure is considered to be beneficial for pediatric patients with chronic pancreatitis due to annular pancreas and duodenal duplication.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to examine lateral abdominal muscle activation during maximum expiration exercise between healthy and chronic low back pain(CLBP) patients. Methods: The subjects were 16 CLBP patients and 16 healthy people between the ages of 22 and 53. The thickness of the abdominal muscles was measured using ultrasonography(LOGIQ Book XP, GE, USA). We instructed the subjects how to perform the exercises and measured changes in thickness of the transversus abdominis(TrA) and internal oblique(IO) muscles during the maximum expiration. The main outcome variables were the ratios of the TrA and IO thickness during the exercise versus in the relaxed position(TrA and IO activation ratios). Results: There were significant differences between CLBP patients and healthy subjects for TrA in the relaxed position. However there was no difference in the ratio of change in the muscle activity(TrA, IO). Conclusion: These findings, CLBP patients exhibited atrophy of the TrA muscle, but voluntary TrA muscle activation was similar to that of the normal subjects. Therefore, this exercise could be used during core strengthening in CLBP patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2023

Background: This study comparatively evaluated the effects of equipment-based pilates exercises (EPE) and lumbar stability exercises (LSE) in patients with chronic low back pain in terms of their Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Oswestry Disability Index(ODI), and abdominal muscle thickness. Methods: A total of 30 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the EPE or the LSE. The VAS, ODI, and abdominal muscle thicknesses of the participants were measured before and after the intervention. Results: The EPE were more effective in terms of the duration of a sustained reduction in VAS scores. post hoc test revealed that EPE were more efficacious in terms of a sustained improvement in ODI scores. With respect to changes in abdominal muscle thickness, there was a significant difference in the thickness of internal oblique muscles(IO) and the external oblique muscles(EO) between the two groups. Conclusion: In this study, both types of exercise interventions resulted in improvements in the VAS, ODI scores, and abdominal muscle thickness in patients with chronic low back pain. However, EPE were found to be more effective than LPE in terms of longer sustained improvements in VAS and ODI scores. Also, with respect to abdominal muscle thickness, the thickness of EO and IO improved only in the EPE group.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.49-55
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• 2011

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) for contraction training of transversus abdominis (TrA) to the patient with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: A 37-year female patient with CLBP participated in study. This study was fix to method of ADIM that maintain to draw in lower abdomen in sitting position on chair and fix 1 time protocol that perform rest for 1-min and ADIM for 1-min during 10-min. Hereunder the subject performed 2 times protocol during 30-min. Measurement method were visual analogue scale (VAS), Korean version of Oswestry disability index (KODI) and using ultrasound imaging. Results: VAS was decreased 5cm to 1cm after intervention 3 weeks, KODI was decreased 22% to 9% after intervention 3 weeks and changes in thickness of the TrA were increased 32% to 68% during ADIM. Conclusions: These findings suggest that performed the ADIM took effect for decreased pain and functional disability level with increased changes in thickness of the TrA. Therefore, patients with CLBP should be use for training of deep abdominal muscles apply to the ADIM.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.233-236
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• 2008

There are many causes of chronic abdominal pain and abdominal protrusion. But, they are likely to be confused with diabetic thoracic polyradiculopathy. Differentiation between this self-limiting complication and abdominal herniation is important to avoid unnecessary procedure. We describe the case of 77-years-old man with 10 years history of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, who was suffering from postherpetic neuralgia for 10 months and presented with a abdominal segmental paresis and protrusion. The paraspinal electromyography showed bilateral lower thoracic radiculopathy.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 2021

This case study reports the effects of complex Korean medicine treatment, including Nangan-jeon, on Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) accompanied by chronic constipation and abdominal pain as the main symptoms. A 39-year-old woman diagnosed with LEMS with major symptoms, including chronic constipation and acute abdominal pain, received Western treatment. The treatment efficacy was weak and symptoms recurred, so the patient received outpatient treatment and 13 days of hospitalization for active Korean medicine treatment, including Nangan-jeon. During outpatient treatment and hospitalization, defecation frequency and the numeric rating scale (NRS) for abdominal pain and abdominal cold feeling were measured. The NRS for abdominal pain and cold decreased from 8 at admission to 3 and 0, respectively, at discharge. Defecation frequency increased significantly from once or twice a month to once every 2-3 days during hospitalization. This study results that complex Korean medicine treatment, including Nangan-jeon may be useful for treating patients who mainly complain of autonomic neurological symptoms, among patients diagnosed with LEMS. In addition, it is believed that it could be basic data applicable to more LEMS patient treatment cases.