• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.163-173
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• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study is to determine whether Chinemys reevesii Gray pharmacopuncture is a clinically effective treatment for women with knee osteoarthritis. Methods : Female patients with knee osteoarthritis were recruited from May $1^{st}$, 2014 to April $15^{th}$, 2015 at the Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine of Dong-Eui University Korean Medical Hospital. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. 4.0 ml of Chinemys reevesii Gray pharmacopuncture was injected at acupuncture points of the experimental group(n = 24) twice a week for three weeks. The control group(n = 24) received 5 % dextrose injections in order to identically stimulate the same acupuncture points of $ST_{35}$, $ST_{34}$, $SP_9$, $SP_{10}$, $GB_{34}$, $LR_8$, $EX-LE_4$, and $EX-LE_2$. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire(SF-MPQ), the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(KWOMAC), and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions(EQ-5D) were recorded to evaluate treatment efficacy at first visit, after two weeks and four weeks from the initial visit. Results : 40 patients completed the trial. The experimental group showed more significant improvement than the control group in the scores of SF-MPQ, KWOMAC, and EQ-5D. However, there was no significant difference between groups in a few of the assessment scales. Conclusions : Chinemys reevesii Gray pharmacopuncture can be an effective treatment in control of pain, improvement in function and health-related quality of life for women with knee osteoarthritis.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.151-158
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• 2018

Objectives: We investigated the efficacy and safety of miniscalpel acupuncture (MA) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in an assessor-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial; this would provide information for a large-scale randomized controlled trial. Methods: Participants (n = 24) were recruited and randomly allocated to the MA group (experimental) or acupuncture group (control). The MA group received treatment once a week for 3 weeks (total of 3 treatments), while the acupuncture group received treatment two times per week for 3 weeks (total of 6 treatments). The primary outcome was pain as assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS). The secondary outcomes (intensity of current pain, stiffness, and physical function) were assessed using the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Assessments were performed at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 during treatment and at week 5 (2 weeks after the end of treatment). Results: Of the 24 participants, 23 completed the study. Both groups showed significant improvements in VAS, SF-MPQ, and WOMAC. However, there were no significant differences between the MA and acupuncture groups. No serious adverse event occurred and blood test results were within normal limits. Conclusion: Our results suggest that although both MA and acupuncture provide similar effects with regard to pain control in patients with KOA, MA may be more effective in providing pain relief because the same relief was obtained with fewer treatments. A large-scale clinical study is warranted to further clarify these findings.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.141-147
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• 2021

This study's purpose is to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment to posterior cruciate ligament tear patients due to traffic accident. 2 patients were treated with Korean medicine by acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and herbal medication. We assessed the knee pain and functional improvement by using numeric rating scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities arthritis (WOMAC) index and EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) index. After treatment, NRS decreased from 6 to 2 in case 1 and from 5 to 3 in case 2. EQ-5D index chaged from 0.465 to 0.72 in case 1 and from 0.719 to -0.171 in case 2. WOMAC index decreased from 82 to 13 in case 1 and from 55 to 54 in case 2. NRS improved in both cases, but WOMAC index and EQ-5D index improved in only one case. Korean medicine treatment could be helpful for posterior cruciate ligament tear traffic accident patients. However, further clinical studies are needed to clarify the effectiveness to the patients with old age, degeneration and accompanying injury.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.101-107
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between acupuncture therapy on knee osteoarthritis and BMI. Methods : Data on assessment measurements of knee osteoarthritis and obesity were obtained from 31 patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis from May, 2011 to September, 2012. The assesment measurements consisted of body mass index(BMI), visual analogue scale(VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities(WOMAC) index. Statistical correlations among assessment measurements were evaluated by examining the Pearson's correlation coefficients. Results : 1. The average age of all patients was $58.87{\pm}9.48$(male : $63.67{\pm}11.34$, female : $57.72{\pm}8.86$). 2. The average BMI of all patients was $25.41{\pm}3.06kg/m^2$. According to clinical definition of obesity by Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, 25.81% of all patients was within normal weight, 25.81% was overweight, 38.71% was obesity and 9.67% was morbid obesity. 3. There were no significant correlations in statistics among assessment measurements. Conclusions : There is significant correlation between knee osteoarthritis and obesity according to many clinical and experimental researches. So more studies on correlation between knee osteoarthritis and obesity and development of assessment measurement are needed.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.123-138
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• 2022

Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the chuna combination treatment for patients who complain of functional impairment and pain even 3 months after total knee arthroplasty. Methods 24 patients who had 3 months of surgery and who had knee joint pain with a score of 4 or higher on the numerical rating scale (NRS) for more than a week were selected as subjects. The test group received usual care and Chuna treatment and the control group received the administration of drugs as usual care. And then the clinical efficacy and safety were compared and evaluated. Follow-up was performed 1 month after the end of treatment. Results As a result of the analysis, it was confirmed that the primary parameter Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (K-WOMAC) showed statistical significance in the amount of change in visit 2-visit 10 (V2-V10) in the pain domain and in the amount of change in visit 2-follow 1 (V2-FU1) in the functional domain and total score domain. The secondary parameter (NRS, risk of fall, and range of motion) showed a tendency to decrease in the degree of discomfort, but statistical significance could not be confirmed. Conclusions Because this study did not have enough study subjects, it is difficult to use the results as confirmatory evidence. However, it was confirmed that the 4-week Chuna treatment had a significant effect and safety in patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. Therefore, this study is meaningful as a prior research data to prepare confirmatory evidence in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.102-109
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• 2020

Background: Due to the aging population in Korea, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has become an increasingly common condition. Many patients with KOA prefer analgesics, herbal medicines, acupuncture, or exercise, rather than arthroscopic surgery or a knee replacement. Gyebutang (GB) granules are a herbal extract widely used to treat KOA in traditional Korean medicine, but there is insufficient evidence of its efficacy and safety. Methods: A multicenter, randomized, assessor-blinded, 2-armed parallel, controlled clinical trial has been designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of GB combined with acupuncture for the treatment of KOA. There will be 100 patients with KOA enrolled in the study from 3 traditional Korean medicine hospitals. The participants will be randomly allocated to an experimental group (GB and acupuncture) or a control group (celecoxib and acupuncture) in a 1:1 ratio. Both groups will receive acupuncture treatment once a week for 6 weeks; one group will receive GB and the other will receive celecoxib for the same duration. Results: The primary outcome will be the change of knee osteoarthritic pain, based on scores on a 100 mm visual analog scale. The secondary outcomes will be scores on a numeric rating scale, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index, patient global assessment, European quality of life 5-dimension 5-level scale, and adverse events. Conclusion: The results of this study will provide evidence of efficacy and safety of GB as a treatment for patients with KOA.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.45-52
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of HT008 on pain relief and functional improvement in participants with mild knee osteoarthritis (OA) in comparison with that of glucosamine sulfate. Methods : This randomized double-blind trial was conducted at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in Seoul where participants with knee pain for more than 6 months and degenerative osteoarthritis were enrolled. The 100 participants were received either HT008 or glucosamine sulfate 750 mg twice daily for 8 weeks and evaluated at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks after the treatment. We primarily evaluated the differences between two groups with respect to changes in the visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score from baseline to week 8. Secondarily the difference between and within two groups with respect to changes in WOMAC stiffness and physical function score, and Lequesne Functional Severity Index (LFI) were also evaluated. Results : At week 8, treatment with HT008 resulted in a significant reduction of the VAS for pain and WOMAC pain scores compared to the glucosamine sulfate (both p=0.003). Patients receiving HT008 experienced statistically significantly greater improvements in WOMAC physical function scores and LFI (p = 0.014 and p=0.016, respectively) than glucosamine sulfate-treated group. The within-group change in WOMAC physical function and stiffness, and LFI during the 8-week intervention revealed significant improvements in HT008-treated group. Conclusions : HT008 treatment allows significant pain reduction and functional improvement compared with glucosamine sulfate. These data confirm HT008 as an effective and safe symptomatic drug for knee OA.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.81-94
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a progressive balance training program with whole-body vibration stimulation on knee joint pain, dysfunction, psychosocial status, and balance ability in individuals aged ≥ 65 years with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: A total of 40 individuals aged ≥ 65 years with osteoarthritis of the knees participated in the study. Using a randomization program, participants were assigned to an experimental group (n = 20) or a control group (n = 20). Both groups were assigned a knee strength training program, and a progressive balance training program with whole-body vibration stimulation was assigned to the experimental group. All interventions were conducted three times a week for four weeks. Participants were evaluated for the following: pain (numeric rating scale, NRS), knee dysfunction (Korean version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, K-WOMAC), fall efficacy (Korean Version Falls Efficacy Scale, K-FES), quality of life (Euro Quality of life 5 Dimension, EQ-5D), and advanced balance scale score (Fullerton advanced balance scale, FAB) before and after the intervention, and the effects of the intervention were compared accordingly between groups. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant differences in the results of the NRS, K-WOMAC, K-FES, and EQ-5D assessments before and after the intervention, and there was a significant difference in the amount of change between the two groups (p < .05). There was a significant improvement in FAB in all but items FAB 8 and FAB 9 after the intervention in the experimental group. In the control group, there was a significant improvement in FAB 1, FAB 2, FAB 7, and FAB total after the intervention (p < .05). In addition, there was a significant difference in the amount of change between the two groups in all items except FAB 8 and FAB 9 (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The progressive balance training program with whole body vibration stimulation is an effective intervention method with clinical significance in improving knee joint pain, knee disability index, psychosocial level, and balance ability in adults aged ≥ 65 with osteoarthritis of the knees.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.1-15
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of massive clinical research and to make a basic analysis on the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion treatment on knee osteoarthritis compared to usual care. Methods and Results : This study is a protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial. Forty participants are assigned to the moxibustion group (n=20) and usual care group (n=20). Participants assigned to the moxibustion group receive moxibustion treatment on the affected knee(s) at six standard acupuncture points (ST36, ST35, ST34, SP9, Ex-LE04 and SP10) three times per week for four weeks (total of 12 sessions). Participants in the usual care group don't receive moxibustion treatment during the study period and follow-up are made on the 5th, 9th and 13th weeks after random allocation. Both groups are allowed to use any kind of treatment, including surgery, conventional medication, physical treatment, acupuncture, herbal medicine, over-the-counter drugs and other active treatments. Education material that explains knee osteoarthritis and current management options and self-exercise is provided for each group. The pain scale of the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Questionnaire (K-WOMAC) is the primary outcome measurement used in this study. Other subscales of the K-WOMAC, the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Physical Function test, Patient Global Assessment, and Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) are used as outcome variables to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture. Safety is assessed at every visit. Conclusions : The result of this trial will provide a basis for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment for knee osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.35-45
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• 2005

Objectives : To investigate the applicability of thermography as severity measurement in the patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Methods : Data were obtained from 80 patiens with OA of the knee. They were asked to answer two disease-specific questionnaire (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) OA index. Lequesne's Functional Index (LFI)), one generic instrument (Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire (KHAQ)), VAS in order to assess the severity of disease, quality of life, and degree of pain and taken thermography in standardized environment. Results : The thermal difference between ipsilateral side and contralaterla side of lateral aspect of knee was correlated with that of medial aspect of knee, and the thermal difference of anterior thigh was correlated with that of lateral, medial aspect of knee and patella region. Age, duration of disease, duration of morning stiffness, sex, crepitus, and painful side of knee were not correlated with the thermal differences of each region. LFI, WOMAC, WOMAC pain subscale, WOMAC stiffness subscale, WOMAC physical function, KHAQ, VAS were not correlated with the thermal differences of each region. Conclusion : Futher study on the thermography on OA of the knee in population with appropriate severity grade and the standardization of analysis of thermographic data were recommended.