• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.23-31
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• 2021

Treatment and management of chronic low back pain (CLBP) should be tailored to the patient's individual context. However, there are limited resources available in which to find and manage the causes and mechanisms for each patient. In this study, we designed and developed a personalized context awareness system that uses machine learning techniques to understand the relationship between a patient's lower back pain and the surrounding environment. A pilot study was conducted to verify the context awareness model. The performance of the lower back pain prediction model was successful enough to be practically usable. It was possible to use the information from the model to understand how the variables influence the occurrence of lower back pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.274-276
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• 2016

Chronic pelvic pain in women is a very annoying condition that is responsible for substantial suffering and medical expense. But dealing with this pain can be tough, because there are numerous possible causes for the pelvic pain such as urologic, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, neurologic, or musculoskeletal problems. Of these, musculoskeletal problem may be a primary cause of chronic pelvic pain in patients with a preceding trauma to the low back, pelvis, or lower extremities. Here, we report the case of a 54-year-old female patient with severe chronic pelvic pain after a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) accident that was successfully managed with image-guided trigger point injections on several pelvic stabilizing muscles.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.164-168
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• 2013

It is easy to overlook osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the ankle in patients with chronic lower limb pain, such as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) or thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO, Buerger's disease). A 57-year-old woman diagnosed with type 1 CRPS, and a 58-year-old man, diagnosed with TAO, complained of tactile and cold allodynia in their lower legs. After neurolytic lumbar sympathethic ganglion block and titration of medications for neuropathic pain, each subject could walk without the aid of crutches. However, they both complained of constant pain on the left ankle during walking. Focal tenderness was noted; subsequent imaging studies revealed OCLs of her talus and his distal tibia, respectively. Immediately after percutaneous osteoplasties, the patients could walk without ankle pain. It is important to consider the presence of a hidden OCL in chronic pain patients that develop weight-bearing pain and complain of localized tenderness on the ankle.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.144-148
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• 2014

The purpose of this research is to utilizing the Tetrax$^{(R)}$ balance measuring instrument in order to analyze the postural balance of males and females in their 30 s diagnosed with chronic lower back pain who have followed a 12-week rehabilitation exercise program. The research also examines the effects on any change in back pain level. In terms of the variables in this research, postural balance (left/right, front/back, postural balance) and pain level change (0~100 mm) were measured. Pre-/post-experimental differences were assessed using the paired-t test. In addition, to identify any gender gap, we set the preliminary scores as a covariate and ran the Analysis of Covariance. Statistical significance (a) herein was set at 0.05. As a result of this research experiment, the left/right, front/back, and overall postural balance were found to increase in both the male and female cases, but with no statistical significance or gender gap. However, both males and females showed a significant decrease in their back pain levels. These findings demonstrate the necessity of continuing clinical research based on the Tetrax$^{(R)}$ equipment for scientific evaluation of the effects of rehabilitation exercises on chronic lower back pain patients and their balancing ability.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of taping applied to the lower trapezius on the upper trapezius muscle tone, pain intensity, cervical rotation range of motion in chronic upper trapezius pain patients. Design: Case-control study. Methods: Twenty subjects with chronic upper trapezius pain were classified into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group applied lower trapezius facilitation taping and the control group applied sham taping. Taping Before and after the application of taping, muscle tone, pain intensity, and cervical rotation range of motion of the upper trapezius were measured. Results: In the experimental group, there were significant differences in the pressure pain threshold and muscle tone before and after taping. In the comparison between groups, there was a significant difference in muscle tone between the experimental group and the control group. Conclusion: The application of the lower trapezius facilitation taping was found to be effective in reducing the pressure threshold and muscle tone of the upper trapezius. Therefore, it is expected that more effective treatment can be provided by adding lower trapezius facilitation taping to the treatment protocol for patients with chronic shoulder pain.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise and lower extremity strengthening program on pain, lower extremity muscle in patients with chronic low back pain. Method: The subject were randomly divided two groups. 15 people who were conducted lower extremity exercises and lumbar stabilization exercises called the combined exercise group and other(15 people) who were only conducted lower extremity exercise group. The assessment tools were the pain level and the led muscle power. Exercise was conducted for eight weeks. Result: Pain of the combined exercise group showed significant differences in the change in pain level(p<.05). The leg muscle power showed significant differences within group which hip flexor, extensor muscles and abductor muscles. there were significant differences within combined exercise group (p<.05). But the knee joint in each group showed a significant difference within group (p<.05). Conclusion: This study suggest that the lumbar stabilization exercises and lower extremity exercises showed more efficient results in the pain levels and leg muscles power than only the lower extremity exercise for patients with lumbar instability.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.316-331
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• 2000

This study was conducted using a descriptive correlational survey design to identify how patients with chronic low-back pain perceived family function and to examine the relationship between family function and depression. The participants of the study were 116 patients with chronic low-back pain patient who were having follow-up treatment in a local pain clinic, located in Daegu. A structured questionnaire was filled out participants themselves and the structured interview was given during January and February, 2000. The data collection instrument were FACE II-Korean version and Beck's Depression Inventory(1983). The data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation(SD), t-test, F-test, Duncan test and Pearson correlation coefficient, done with SAS. The results are as follows; 1. The mean of the respondents' perceived family function was 3.47, with emotional bonding at 3.61, acceptability and sharing at 3.61, participation at 3.23, negotiation and satisfaction at 3.24 and responsibility and expectation at 3.76. 2. The mean of the respondents' perceived depression was $17.53{\pm}8.76$. 3. There was significantly negative correlation between family function and depression(r=-0.4817, p=.0001). 4. Research variables included demographic characteristics and showed that subjects who were aged 65 years or older showed significantly lower scores in patient's perceived family function than those who were aged 45 years or below(p=.0502). Perceived family function of females respondents were significantly lower than males(p=.0026). The illiterate showed significantly lower scores than other groups(p=.0001). Respondents with spouse and extended family tended to show significantly higher scores than those who were living with spouse only or by themselves alone(p=.0091). Those who had higher income showed significantly higher scores than in the lower income group(p=.0001). 5. For family function regarding pain characteristics, those who reported severe pain-related daily activity impediments showed significantly lower scores in family function than others with less pain(p=.0357).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.35-46
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• 2008

Objectives : Chronic pain affects and is affected by physical and psychosocial factors. It also has a complicated and indefinite mechanism. This research is for clarifying relations with chronic pain, stress, and autonomic nerve system by comparing HRV and Stress Reaction Index(SRI) of chronic pain patients with those of acute pain patients. Methods : The subjects were 32 patients who visited Kangnam Kyunghee Hospital for nuchal pain or low back pain treatment from March 2008 to September 2008. Among them, 16 patients who suffered over 6 months are classified chronic pain group and 16 patients who suffered under 6 months as acute pain group. All subjects had their HRV(SA-2000E: Medicore Co..Ltd. Korea) and SRI measured at first visit. We studied the difference of HRV between two groups.(Statistics by Student t-test, p<0.05) Results : R-MSSD, TP, VLF, LF, HF and LF/HF ratio of the chronic pain group were significantly lower than those of the acute pain group. Compared with those of the acute pain group, total SRI of the chronic pain group were low but it's not significant except frustration. Conclusion : The results of HRV of the chronic pain group patients show that chronic pain is related to psychosocial factor and autonomic disturbance.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.299-302
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of spinal decompression therapy on pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: Twenty patients with chronic low back pain were divided into an experimental group (spinal decompression therapy, n=10) and a control group (conservative physical therapy, n=10). Both groups were treated three times a week over a four-week period. Results: The comparison of between-group changes post-treatment revealed statistically significant lower levels of pain and disability in the experimental group than the control group. The comparison of within each group changes before and after the treatment showed statistically significant declines in pain and disability indexes of both groups. Conclusion: Spinal decompression therapy may be an effective intervention for improving pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2019

Background: Compared to healthy people, patients with chronic lower back pain have reduced balance abilities which may cause proprioception problems, patients with chronic lower back pain avoid physical activities due to pain, and reduced activity levels lead to muscle weakening, which can further exacerbate pain. Recently, there have been many studies on the use of sensory stimulation; and among these studies, interventions that use vibrational stimulation have shown functional improvements in the patients. Objects: This study examined the effects of a stabilization exercise with vibration stimulation on the balance ability and disability in patients with chronic back pain. Methods: The subjects of the study were 30 persons who were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group, with 15 subjects in each. The subjects were evaluated before and after intervention via a balance ability test, the Korean Oswestry disability index (KODI) test, a pain test, and a proprioceptive sensory test. Both groups received general physical therapy. The experimental group performed the stabilization exercise with vibration stimulation, and the control group performed a general stabilization exercise, three times a week for six weeks. Results: After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in the balance ability test, the KODI test, the pain test, and the proprioceptive sensory test. The experimental group showed statistically significant, higher improvements than the control group in the balance ability test, the KODI test, and the proprioceptive sensory test. Conclusions: The stabilization exercise with vibration stimulation for patients with chronic back pain has been reported to provide greater functional improvements than the conventional intervention method. Therefore, the stabilization exercise in a vibration stimulation environment could be a useful intervention for patients with chronic back pain.