• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.64-67
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of thread-embedding therapy for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. There were 20 patients treated with thread-embedding therapy at various acupoints on the muscles around the knee. Gender, age, location, morbidity period, numeric rating scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index, improvement result, side effects, and patient's satisfaction were investigated. After the treatment, the NRS score (z = -4.07, p < 0.001) and WOMAC (p < 0.001) indices decreased in most patients. The NRS score decreased by more than 2 points in 95% of the patients. The WOMAC index decreased by 6-12 points. There were no serious side effects, although bruising, pain, and edema were observed. Overall, 85% of the patients felt satisfied with the thread-embedding therapy. These findings suggested that thread-embedding therapy was effective and may be used widely for knee osteoarthritis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.6728-6738
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• 2014

This study investigated the relationship among pain, depression and activities of daily living in nursing home residents. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire survey of residents at 4 nursing homes in S city. The measures were the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Discomfort Scale-Dementia of the Alzheimer Type (DS-DAT) for self-reported and observational pain, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form-Korea Version (GDSSF-K) for depression, Barthel Activities of Daily Living (BADL) scale for ADL. The data were analyzed using the Pearson's correlation coefficient and hierarchical multiple regression using the SPSS/PC 20.0 program. The analysis results of the relationship of pain, depression and activities of daily living, both DS-DAT and NRS showed a significant negative correlation with the activities of daily living and a positive correlation with depression. Finally, gender, arthritis, depression, and activities of daily living explained 28.1% of the variance in pain using NRS, whereas depression and activities of daily living explained 21.5% of the variance in pain using DS-DAT. The results highlight the need to develop a pain management program that reduces the depression and promotes the activities of daily living in nursing home residents; hence, a differentiated approach as non-pharmacological interventions is required.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim on this study was to establish the validity, reliability and efficiency of a Pain Self-Report Scale for elderly with dementia and compare these results with an observational pain rating scale. Methods: Study subjects were 136 elderly with dementia who were residents in a nursing home, geriatric hospital, or day care center. The subject's pain was measured by five self-report scales and observational scale. DS-DAT (discomfort scale-dementia of the Alzheimer's type) was used for pain behavior observational measure. Cognitive state was assessed using the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination). Results: Observational rating correlated moderately with self-report (r=.225~.585, p<.05) and tended to underestimate pain intensity. Test-retest reliability was high for all five self-report scales, and the correlation between these scales was very strong (r=.735~.856, p<.05). Comprehension rate of VDS (verbal descriptor scale) was 88.3%, and NRS (numeric rating scale) 69.9%, FPS (face pain scale) 66.9%, HVAS (horizontal visual analog scale) and VVAS (vertical visual analog scale) 65.4%. Conclusion: Nurses should not apply observational scales routinely in demented patients as many of these are capable of reporting their own pain. Self-report, the highest standard of pain measurement can be reliably performed in a large proportion of demented elderly.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.369-375
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was the examination of the correlations between the daily physical pain intensity (DPPI) scale and the numeric rating scale (NRS), and between the DPPI scale and the quality of life (QOL) of short form health survey (SF-36) and beck depression inventory (BDI) questionnaires. The focus of the DPPI scale was the daily-living activities of the individual, and the scale contains three items regarding the pain per movement range, the pain per day, and the pain when touching the pain area. Methods: A total of 241 adults answered the DPPI, NRS, SF-36, and BDI questionnaires. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated for the various relations of the DPPI to the other scales. Results: High correlations were shown between the NRS and the DPPI (r=0.809, p<0.05). The DPPI scale (r=0.437, p<0.05) showed "moderate" significant correlations with the SF-36 and the NRS (r=0.370, p<0.05), and it showed "weak" significant correlations with the SF-36. There are no statistically significant correlations between the DPPI, the NRS score, and the BDI score (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study was the first attempt to establish the concurrent validity of a new focus on daily-living activities for the assessment of pain. This study showed promise for the development of activities of daily living focused tool for an assessment of the subjective pain in patients that was more objective.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.247-252
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to observe the clinical effects of acupuncture therapy and Ecklonia cava extract on sleep disturbance in ALS patients. Methods : In this study one patient received acupuncture therapy and took Ecklonia cava extract. The effects of the combined administration of these treatments were evaluated using Numeric Rating Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results : The NRS score for sleep disturbance decreased from 10 to 1 and the PSQI score decreased from between 12~13 to 8. After treatment, the patient stopped taking sleeping pills and antidepressant. Conclusions : Combined administration of acupuncture therapy and Ecklonia cava extract could be effective in improving sleep disturbances in ALS patient.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.219-224
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to report the clinical effects of needle-embedding acupuncture therapy combined with Korean medicine on a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc. Methods : We treated one patient with a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc with needle-embedding acupuncture therapy combined with Korean medical treatment. We checked the numeric rating scale(NRS), oswestry low back pain disability index(ODI) and straight leg raising test(SLRT). Results : In this case, the numeric rating scale decreased, while the straight leg raising test results improved. Conclusion : Needle-embedding acupuncture therapy could be effective for pain-reduction for a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.229-233
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this report is to show the effectiveness of traditional korean medical treatment with Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture. Methods : Twenty five patients were treated by korean medical treatment including Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture. We measured valuation standards such as House-Brackmann Grade(H-B Grade) and Numeric Rating Scale(NRS) to assess the effectiveness of treatments. These valuation standards were measured at admisson and discharge. Results : The results were obtained as below. 1. In House-Brackmann Grade, 60.0% of patients were improved and 36.0% were maintained at the same level. 4.0% of patients were worsen. 2. Average of Numeric Rating Scale was changed from 8.5 to 3.0 after whole treatment. Conclusions : Korean medical treatments including Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopunture can be effective for improving symptoms of facial paralysis.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.157-166
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• 2014

Objective : The purpose of this study is to report the patient with radial nerve injury associated with humerus shaft fracture, who was improved by Korean medical treatments. Methods : The patient was treated by Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture, electrical stimulation therapy, physical therapy, and herbal medicine according to "Locating Yang brightness meridians" theory. Coding result, Numeric rating scale(NRS) and digital grip dynamometer were used to evaluate the wrist drop, numbness of fingers and grip power. Results : The patient showed the first sign of recovery after 6 weeks from onset. After 9 weeks from onset, the patient could perform delicate manual activity. Grip power showed noticeable improvement as well as coding result and NRS. Conclusions : The results suggest that providing Korean medical treatments according to "Locating Yang brightness meridians" theory is a good method for treating radial nerve injury associated with humerus shaft fracture. But further studies are required to concretely prove the effectiveness of this method for treating radial nerve injury associated with humerus fracture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.243-252
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• 2005

Objective : This study was performed to investigate the effect of blood-letting cupping treatment for acute ankle sprain because there are few studies with evidence-based approach. Method : Twenty-nine patients, who had no fracture and had injured by external force and had less than 1 week passed since onset and had not been treated, were randomly divided into control or treatment group by tossing a coin. The treatment group received blood-letting cupping. After 3rd treatment, the outcomes were assessed using Ankle-Hindfoot Scale (AHS) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Result : Nineteen out of 29 patients were finally assessed. The treatment group (n=11) was significantly different from the control group (n=8) in AHS and NRS (p=0.041, 0.026, respectively). Conclusion : The blood-letting cupping has an objective effect on reduing pain for acute ankle sprain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41
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• pp.143-148
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• 2024

A patient with sequelae of peripheral facial nerve palsy (FNP) was mainly treated with facial chuna manual therapy (FCMT) for over 6 months. The patient was diagnosed with hemophilia B and C, so invasive treatments, such as acupuncture and pharmacopuncture, were precluded. The facial nerve grading system 2.0 (FNGS) and the House-Brackmann Grading Scale (HBGS), Peitersen, Murata, Mehta, and numeric rating scale (NRS) systems were used to measure treatment effectiveness. Each scale showed improvement: FNGS, 3 to 2; HBGS, 3 to 2; Peitersen scale, 2 to 1; Murata scale, 9 to 4; Mehta scale, 14 to 1; and NRS, 8.5 to 2.5. An overall improvement was evident in facial muscle strength, particularly in synkinesis. If acupuncture and pharmacopuncture are unavailable, FCMT alone may be effective in treating FNP sequelae.