• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2002

This study was intended to observe the relationship of pain alleviation between the group with needle electrode electrical stimulation applied on bach of head, lung, nasalis internae, shen-men, pharynx & larynx, and internal secretion which are the pants to regulate smoking and that, with no treatment of the kind among smokers and con-smokers with chronic low back pain. It also aimed to conduct a research of applying different treatment methods according to smoking, thus ultimately providing basic data needed by clinic therapists and to help achieve appropriate treatment effects considering the characteristics of each patient. The subject criteria were men who were in their 40's or 50's, smoking or non-smoking and came to the physical therapy of the hospital to cure the chronic low back pain which had lasted more than three months. The total 24 subjects were randomly divided into four groups according to smoking; the group of smokers with needle electrode electrical stimulation applied, that of smokers with no application of such treatment, that of non-smokers with the action of such treatment, and that of non-smokers with no application of such treatment Each group was measured in terms of four pain assessment methods of visual analogue scale(VAS), verbal rating scale(VRS), McGil pain questionnaire(MPQ), endorphin. And the results were as follows: 1. In terms of the effects of the needle electrode electrical stimulation in the auricular therapy on pain had by the smokers with low back pain, there was a statistical significance in VAS, VRS, and endorphin 1 between before and after the treatment. 2. In terms of the pain effects had by the smokers with low back pain when no needle electrode electrical stimulation in the auricular therapy was applied, there was a statistical significance in VRS and MPQ between before and after the treatment. 3. In terms of the effects of the needle electrode electrical stimulation in the auricular therapy on pain had by the non-smokers with low back pain, there was a statistical significance in VAS, VRS, and MPQ between before and after the treatment. In terms of the pain effects had by the non-smokers with low back pain when no needle electrode electrical stimulation in the auricular was applied, there was a statistical significance in VAS, VRS, and MPQ between before and after the treatment. 5. The smokers with low back pain were given the needle electrode electrical stimulation in the auricular therapy to see how it affected their pain. There was found pain reduction in number, but no statistical significance. 6. The subject suffering from low back pain were given the needle electrode electrical stimulation to see how it affected their pain according to smoking. There was found pain reduction in number, but no statistical significance. Based upon the results, it can be concluded that smokers with low back pain received the more effects of pain alleviation from the application of the needle electrode electrical stimulation in the auricular therapy compared to the rest of the groups who suffered from low back pain.

• Journal of Electrodiagnosis and Neuromuscular Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.84-90
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• 2018

Objective: To assess the correlation between surface electromyography (SEMG) and conventional EMG in patients with facial nerve palsy. Additionally, compare the discomfort and the time required by the patients in two methods. Method: 36 patients with facial palsy were given nerve conduction studies (NCS) via conventional EMG. Then, the peak root mean square (RMS) values were obtained from the SEMG. We also recorded visual analogue scale (VAS), House-Brackmann scale, and the time required for the examination. Results: Pearson's correlation coefficient between the amplitude loss ratio of the RMS values obtained by SEMG compared to the unaffected side (RSEMG) and the amplitude loss ratio of CMAP amplitudes compared to the unaffected side (RCMAP) was 0.567 at the frontalis, 0.456 at the orbicularis oculi, 0.393 at the nasalis, and 0.437 at the orbicularis oris. An increase in RSEMG is positively correlated with an increase in RCMAP. The mean VAS score with conventional EMG was $3.55{\pm}1.42$, whereas that experienced when using SEMG was $0.11{\pm}0.52$ and the mean time required for conventional EMG was $610{\pm}103.84$ seconds, while that required for SEMG was $420{\pm}86.32$ seconds. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a significant positive correlation between facial muscle activities as measured by SEMG and conventional EMG in patients with facial nerve palsy. SEMG has the benefits of being more comfortable and faster when diagnosing facial palsy.