• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.30-34
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• 2014

Background: Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS), otherwise called myofascial pain is one of the most common temporomandibular disorders, which in turn is the most common cause of orofacial pain of non-dental origin. Its etiology is multifactorial and still poorly understood. Psychological factors have been shown to play a role in the etiology. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between anxiety and salivary cortisol levels in patients with myofascial pain. Methods: Twenty patients suffering from myofascial pain were recruited as the study group. The same number of age and sex matched healthy individuals were taken as the control group. The salivary samples collected between 9-9:15 am from both groups were analyzed for cortisol levels with the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Anxiety levels of 40 patients were measured using Hamilton's anxiety scale. Results: The mean serum cortisol level of the MPDS group showed a highly significant difference (P < 0.001) from the controls. The mean anxiety scores of the MPDS group showed a highly significant difference (P < 0.001) from the controls. A positive correlation was found between anxiety and the salivary cortisol levels in MPDS patients. Conclusions: These findings suggest that anxiety plays a vital role in the etio-pathogenesis of MPDS; thus, besides pharmacological treatment, psychological support is also needed.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2014

Skeletal muscles which are the largest part of human body may develop pain and dysfunction. The myofascial pain syndrome that has trigger points as a unique characteristic is a major cause of morbidity. Trigger points are focal, hyperirritable painful areas located in a taut band of skeletal muscle. They produce local area pain and a referred pattern pain and often accompany chronic joint dysfunction. Various modalities are used to inactivate trigger points in myofascial pain syndrome. Trigger-point injection has been shown to be one of the most effective treatment modality to provide prompt relief of symptoms. This review article presents general concept of myofascial pain syndrome and technique of trigger point injection.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.136-140
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• 2016

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is one of the common musculoskeletal conditions of the shoulder which may develop sensory-motor and autonomic dysfunctions at the various level of the neuromuscular system. The pain and dysfunction caused by MPS were primarily treated with physical therapy and pharmacological agents in order to achieve painfree movements. However, in recent years intramuscular electrical stimulation (IMES) with conventional electrode placement was used by researchers to maximise therapeutic values. But, in this study an inverse electrode placement was used to deliver electrical impulses intramuscularly to achieve neuro-modulation at the various level of the nervous system. Nine patients with MPS were treated with intramuscular electrode stimulation using inversely placed electrodes for a period of three weeks. All nine subjects recovered from their shoulder pain and disability within the few weeks of intervention. So, this inverse electrode placement may be more appropriate for chronic pain management.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.341-346
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• 1995

Piriformis Syndrome is characterized by pain of the low back, groin, perineum, buttock, hip, posterior thigh, leg and foot. Symptoms are aggravated by sitting, prolonged combination of hip flexion, adduction, the medial rotation, or by activity. In addition, patient may complain of painful swelling of the limb and sexual dysfunction-dyspareunia in female, and impotence in male. It currently appears that three specific conditions may contribute to the piriformis syndrome: (a) myofascial pain; (b) nerve and vascular entrapment; (c) dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint. The important keys of diagnosis are history and physical examination. There is no known objective diagnostic method. We described the clinical features of four cases of piriformis syndrome and reviewed foreign literature.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 1975

The author has observed 64 films from M. P. D. syndrome cases taken in Dept. of Radiology, the Infirmary of Dental College, Seoul National University in 1974, and obtained the following results: 1. In M. P. D. syndrome, the ratio between the female and the male were 2:l. 2. The prevalenting age were aged 20, 30, 10, and 40 in decreasing order. 3. The incidence was 21.8% in the left side, 29% in the right, and 21% was bilaterally, which show the right most frequent. 4. The roentgenograms revealed variable findings in each case, but there were not recognized any significant differences.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.53-61
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• 2017

Myogenous temporomandibular disorder is a collective term for pathologic conditions of the masticatory muscles, mainly characterized by pain and dysfunction associated with various pathophysiological processes. Among the subtypes of myogenous temporomandibular disorder, myofascial pain is one of the most common muscle disorders, characterized by the presence of trigger points (TrPs). Various modalities, such as ultrasound, manipulative therapy, spray-and-stretch technique, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, injection/dry needling, and low-level laser therapy are used to inactivate TrPs. Needling/injection on the TrPs is one of the most common treatments for myofascial pain. Despite the evidence, there is continued controversy over defining the biological and clinical characteristics of TrPs and the efficacy of injection/dry needling. This review discusses the current concept of injection/needling to relieve TrPs.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.49-61
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• 2005

Summary of Background Data: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common painful muscle disorder caused by trigger points occurring in myofascial. MPS is a major cause of chronical pain and is the subject of further clinical examination. Purpose: To uncover effective intramuscular stimulation therapy (IMS), the patients' actively participation stretching exercise and stabilizing around shoulder girdle where trigger point provoking myofascial pain syndrome in usually occurred. Methods: 45 myofascial pain syndrome patients were randomly chosen and divided into 3 groups. The first group (G1) received only IMS therapy, The second group (G2) had both IMS and active stretching exercises administered and the final group (G3) was given IMS therapy and stabilizing exercises. Therapy intervention was given for 3 weeks, 3 times a week and then only stretching exercise for the second group and stabilizing exercise for the third group was given for another 3 weeks. The visual analogue scale was dine before the experiment, 3 weeks after the experiment and 6weeks after the experiment to measure subjective degrees of pain and pressure pain threshold to measure sensitivity improvement of trigger point and functional ability questionnaire to measure daily life performance. Results: There were no significant changes after 3 weeks but after 6 weeks, between GI and G2 and between G1 and G3 showed significant change of pain, pressure pain threshold and daily life performance. There were significant improvement of the measurement of degrees of pain, pressure pain threshold and improvement of daily life performance at different times for G1 showed change 3 weeks after the experiment, but there were no changes 6 weeks after the experiment. There were significant improvement of the measurement at different times for G2 and G3 showed change 3 weeks after the experiment and 6 weeks after the experiment. Conclusions: IMS therapy proved to be effective in inactivation of trigger points of the myofascial pain syndrome patients and stretching and stabilizing exercises beside it keep remedial value longer by improvement of pain and dysfunction that occurred by the trigger point.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.141-152
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of ischemic compression (IC) therapy and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in patients with upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome and to present an effective treatment method for these patients. Methods: A total of 42 patients with upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome were randomly assigned to the IC group (n = 21) and ESWT group (n = 21). IC therapy and ESWT were performed in the IC and ESWT groups, respectively. Treatment was applied to the trigger point of the upper trapezius muscle. Visual analog scales (VAS), pain pressure threshold (PPT), range of motion, neck disability index (NDI), and fear-avoidance belief questionnaire (FABQ) were evaluated before and after the intervention to compare its effectiveness. Results: Both groups showed significant differences before and after the intervention in VAS, PPT, NDI, FABQ, flexion, extension, right side bending, and left side bending (p <.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the IC group compared to the ESWT group in VAS, PPT, and NDI (p <.05). Conclusion: IC therapy and ESWT applied to patients with upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome are mediating methods of pain, function, and psychosocial effects. In addition, IC therapy may be a more effective mediating method for pain and dysfunction than ESWT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.133-141
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of active release technique on pain, Oswestry Disability Index, and pelvic asymmetry in chronic low back pain patients. METHODS: Thirty five outpatients diagnosed with chronic low back pain were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided randomly into an active release technique therapy group(experimental group; n=18) and myofascial release technique therapy group(control group; n=17). These groups performed their respective therapy for a 40-minute session occurring twice a week over six weeks. The Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) was used to measure the subjects' pain, and the Korean Oswestry Disability Index(KODI) was used to measure the subjects' dysfunction. To assess the patients' pelvic asymmetry, their pelvic tilt and pelvic rotation were measured using X-ray imaging. RESULTS: Both the experimental group and control group exhibited significant decreases in their VAS and KODI scores after the therapy(p<.05). The experimental group exhibited a significant decrease in their pelvic tilt and pelvic rotation after therapy(p<.05). A significant difference was observed between the experimental group and the control group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that active release technique is effective in decreasing the level of pain and dysfunction in chronic low back pain patients. In addition, the active release technique is considered to be more effective in improving the pelvic tilt and pelvic rotation than myofascial release technique. This can be an effective method for the non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatment of chronic low back pain.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.37
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• pp.23.1-23.8
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional effects of temporalis myofascial flap after condylectomy, with or without disc removal, in elderly patients with anterior disc displacement (ADD) without reduction and an erosive condylar surface of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Methods: A total of 15 joints from 11 elderly patients (71-78 years old) were included. The patients had pain, mandibular dysfunction symptoms, and unilateral or bilateral ADD as well as an erosive condylar surface of the TMJ. All patients underwent temporalis myofascial flap reconstruction after condylectomy, with or without disc removal. If the maximal mouth opening (MMO) remained <35 mm after condylectomy, coronoidotomy was also performed. Self-assessed pain and mandibular function, including MMO and protrusive and lateral movements, were evaluated. Results: No patient experienced serious complications. Most measurements improved significantly after surgery compared to preoperatively. Most patients achieved nearly-normal mouth opening at 4 weeks after surgery. Although most patients felt discomfort during active postoperative physiotherapy, no patient reported serious pain during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Although nonsurgical therapy is often the first treatment choice for ADD without reduction of the TMJ, surgical intervention involving condylectomy and temporalis myofascial flap reconstruction may be a reasonable first option for elderly patients with an erosive condylar surface of the TMJ.