• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.235-242
• /
• 2023

The purpose of this study is to report the effects of Korean medicine treatment in baastrup's disease. We treated the patient for 34 days using Korean medicine treatment such as acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, Chuna manual therapy and help motion style acupuncture treatment. Numerical rating scale (NRS), EuroQol five dimension (EQ-5D) index, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and lumbar range of motion (ROM) were used as evaluation tools for the state. NRS decrease from 5 to 3, and EQ-5D index, ODI, L-spine ROM were improved by the treatment. In conclusion, this case study shows that Korean medicine treatment can be effective for baastrup's disease.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.93-103
• /
• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report a case of a pregnant woman diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation that improved in lumbar pain and radiating leg pain through combined korean medical treatment including pharmacopuncture at lumbar facet joints in situations surgical and pharmacological treatment is limited due to pregnancy. Methods: A combination of treatment including pharmacopuncture at lumbar facet joints, acupuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine was provided for 1 month to a woman at 21 weeks pregnant who was diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation. Her progress was assessed with Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), EuroQol-5Dimension (EQ-5D) before and after treatment. Results: After the treatment, the pain decreased and the quality of life was enhanced. No adverse events were observed. Conclusions: The findings indicate that combined korean medical treatment including pharmacopuncture at lumbar facet joints can be safe and effective alternative to treat lumbar disc herniation during pregnancy.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.389-400
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Depression is a highly prevalent disease, and the market for antidepressant drugs continues to grow at a steady rate. Although current antidepressants are reported to be effective, because of their low remission rate and side effects, new antidepressants are needed. The use of Banhahubak-tang (BHT) to treat the symptoms of depression is supported by experimental evidence. The proposed study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of BHT in treating depression. Methods: A randomized, waitlist-controlled, parallel clinical trial will be conducted to assess the efficacy of BHT in depression. A total of 84 participants with depression will be randomized into the intervention group or waitlist-control group at a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the intervention group will be administered BHT three times a day for four weeks and followed up for four more weeks after therapy completion. Patients in the waitlist-control group will undergo the same intervention and follow-up after a four-week waiting period. The primary outcome is change in the Korean version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS) scores for major depressive disorders after four weeks. The secondary outcomes include scores on the K-HDRS, Korean Symptom Check List 95 (KSCL-95), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Korean version (STAI-K), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-Korean version (STAXI-K), and the Instrument on Pattern Identifications for Depression and EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D). Conclusions: This trial will provide high-quality clinical evidence of the efficacy and safety of BHT in the management of depression.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.175-182
• /
• 2021

To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) a literature review was conducted of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where acupuncture was used as an intervention for patients diagnosed with SIS. Relevant clinical studies (N = 181) were retrieved from several databases based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and the interventions and results were analyzed. Six RCTs were selected to review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In all 6 studies, the acupuncture treatment group showed significant positive changes in indicators evaluating pain, disability, and quality of life. A significant decrease in the evaluation indicators (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, numeric rating scale, Visual Analogue Scale, Constant Murley Shoulder Assessment Score, patient's global assessment, and doctor's global assessment) and a significant increase in the questionnaire scores (UCLA, AL-score, EuroQol 5 Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire, and disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand) were observed. In addition, 1 study showed similar improvements in pain and quality of life measures in the acupuncture group and corticosteroid injection group. No major side effects were reported. Acupuncture may be an effective and safe treatment for SIS however, further RCTs are required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.100-106
• /
• 2019

Background: In Korean medicine, carpal tunnel syndrome is treated by stimulating the acupoints around the wrist. Although a deep understanding of anatomy and guidance is needed to stimulate these acupoints to avoid undesirable side-effects, currently there are no published guidelines for acupotomy treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of fluoroscopy-guided acupotomy compared with conventional acupotomy treatment. Methods: This is a randomized, patient-assessor, patient blind, parallel clinical trial. A total of 30 patients will be enrolled at Wonkwang University Gwangju Hospital, and will be allocated to either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group will be treated using fluoroscopy-guided acupotomy and the control group will be treated using the conventional acupotomy method. Results: The primary outcome measure will be identification of a cross-section area of the median nerve measured by ultrasonography, and the secondary outcome measure will be the alleviation of pain measured by the Visual Analogue Scale, improvement in the Nerve Conduction Study, Tinel test, Phalen's test, EuroQol 5-dimension scale, and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire score. Safety components will be measured by monitoring vital signs, electrocardiographs, blood tests, general chemical tests, urine tests and pregnancy tests. In addition, observations for adverse effects will be performed during the trial. Conclusion: This study will provide a more effective, and less harmful way of treating carpal tunnel syndrome compared with conventional acupotomy. Fluoroscopy-guided acupotomy will help practitioners to be accurate in direction and depth of the needle for treating carpal tunnel syndrome.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.63-72
• /
• 2022

Objectives This case study aimed to investigate the effect of complex Korean medicine treatment including Chuna manual therapy on sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain status post SIJ fusion with sacroiliac screw fixation. Methods Complex Korean medicine treatments including Chuna manual therapy were provided to patients with SIJ widening due to a traffic accident trauma. Measurement of range of motion and manual muscle test to evaluate functional activities of daily living was conducted before and after treatment. Moreover, outcome estimates were performed using the numeric rating scale, pain disability index, and EuroQol 5-dimension five-level questionnaire. Results After complex treatment, functional activities of daily living improved. Sacroiliac joint pain decreased and the quality-of-life score improved. Conclusions This study suggests that treatment with complex Korean medicine treatment including Chuna manual therapy may improve traumatic SIJ widening status post SIJ fusion. A postoperative rehabilitation protocol based on accumulated research results considering a multidisciplinary approach should be prepared to ensure holistic treatment.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.91-100
• /
• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study was to report a case of a woman diagnosed with post hysterectomy syndrome treated with combined Korean medical treatment. Methods A combination of treatment including chuna manual therapy, pharmacopuncture at the lumbar facet joints, acupuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine was provided for 1 month. Progress was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale, Oswestry Disability Index, EuroQol-5Dimension, and Hot Flush Score before and after treatment. Results After treatment, the symptoms were reduced and the quality of life was enhanced, although there was no improvement in the abnormal sensation in the anterior part of the thigh. No adverse events were observed. Conclusions The findings indicate that a combination of Korean medical treatment can be a safe and effective alternative treatment in reducing LBP and hot flushes after hysterectomy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.361-368
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to explore dimensions in addition to the 5 dimensions of the 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L) that could satisfactorily explain variation in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the general population of South Korea. Methods: Domains related to HRQoL were searched through a review of existing HRQoL instruments. Among the 28 potential dimensions, the 5 dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L and 7 additional dimensions (vision, hearing, communication, cognitive function, social relationships, vitality, and sleep) were included. A representative sample of 600 subjects was selected for the survey, which was administered through face-to-face interviews. Subjects were asked to report problems in 12 health dimensions at 5 levels, as well as their self-rated health status using the EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) and a 5-point Likert scale. Among subjects who reported no problems for any of the parameters in the EQ-5D-5L, we analyzed the frequencies of problems in the additional dimensions. A linear regression model with the EQ-VAS as the dependent variable was performed to identify additional significant dimensions. Results: Among respondents who reported full health on the EQ-5D-5L (n=365), 32% reported a problem for at least 1 additional dimension, and 14% reported worse than moderate self-rated health. Regression analysis revealed a $R^2$ of 0.228 for the original EQ-5D-5L dimensions, 0.200 for the new dimensions, and 0.263 for the 12 dimensions together. Among the added dimensions, vitality and sleep were significantly associated with EQ-VAS scores. Conclusions: This study identified significant dimensions for assessing self-rated health among members of the general public, in addition to the 5 dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L. These dimensions could be considered for inclusion in a new preference-based instrument or for developing a country-specific HRQoL instrument.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.90-100
• /
• 2019

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the association between depression with atypical features and metabolic syndromes in Korean adults using the 2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. Methods : We used the 2016 KNHANES data to enroll 277 participants with a score of 10 or higher on Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Depression with atypical features was diagnosed when at least two of the following criteria were met : 1) sleeping more than 10 hours a day ; 2) weight gain of more than 3 kg in a year ; and 3) fatigue/anergia. Depression was divided into two groups based on the presence/absence of atypical features. Physical and mental health, and risk of metabolic syndrome were compared between the groups. Results : Among the 277 participants, 91 had depression with atypical features. We identified significant differences in age, sex, income, and education between the two groups. After adjusting for these variables, depression with atypical features had lower EuroQol-5D index scores (p<0.001) and higher prevalence of metabolic syndromes (p=0.035) compared to the depression without atypical features. Depression with atypical features had higher odds ratio (OR) in association with metabolic syndromes after adjusting for confounding variables (OR=1.923 ; 95% confidence interval : 1.069-3.460). Conclusions : Depression with atypical features increases the risk of metabolic syndromes and lowers the quality of life.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.193-199
• /
• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate electric moxibustion on patients with back pain caused by road traffic accidents. Methods: This was a retrospective study (n = 112) comparing treatment with Korean medicine combined with electric moxibustion (n = 56), and Korean medicine alone (n = 56). Patient gender, age, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) was recorded for each group at the time of hospital admission. Mean NRS measured weekly, mean ODI and EQ-5D scores were measured 2 weeks post-treatment, and evaluated by paired sample t test. using the Statistical Program for Social Science v. 25.0 for Windows. An independent, two-sample t test was used to test for a significant difference in the decrement of NRS, ODI and increment EQ-5D scores between groups. Results: NRS scores decreased in both groups after 1 week of treatment (electric moxibustion, from $5.13{\pm}0.79$ to $3.86{\pm}0.67$; Korean medicine alone, from $5.18{\pm}0.92$ to $4.30{\pm}0.94$; both p < 0.001). There was a significantly greater reduction in NRS score in the electric moxibustion group ($1.27{\pm}0.59$) than in the Korean medicine alone group ($0.88{\pm}0.61$; p = 0.001). After 2 weeks of treatment, EQ-5D scores increased significantly in the moxibustion group ($0.19{\pm}0.12$) compared with the Korean medicine alone group ($0.13{\pm}0.20$; p = 0.043). After 2 weeks of treatment, NRS and ODI scores decreased in both groups. EQ-5D increased in both groups. Conclusion: We suggest that electric moxibustion treatment may be effective for reducing early-stage back pain in patients with road traffic accident injuries.