• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the low-intensity ultrasound (noblelife) treatment on the pain points of upper trapezius muscle. The study recruited 20 patients who had trigger points in one side of the upper trapezius. The effectiveness of the low-intensity ultrasound treatment was assessed with subjective pain intensity using visual analog scale (VAS) and pressure pain threshold (PPT). The PPT was measured by pressure threshold algometer. Before and after the treatment, changes of pain were evaluated. Wilcoxon test for VAS data and paired t-test for PPT data were used for statistical significance. Compared to the pain intensity before the treatment, the pain intensity after treatment was significantly decreased (p<.05). Low-intensity ultrasound could be safely used in clinical application and at home for the treatment of patients with pain in upper trapezius muscle.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 2002

Poor posture of the neck and head long been recognized as a factor contributing to the onset and perpetuation of pain in the head and neck region. The purposes of the study were to evaluate the changes in forward head posture and pressure pain threshold in tension type headache group and control group. Forward head posture were measured to craniovertebral angle and cranial rotation angle. Craniovertebral angle was smaller in tension type headache group(p<0.05), and cranial rotation angle was larger in tension type headache group(p<0.05). Pressure pain threshold was similar between tension type headache group and control group with the exception of right suboccipitalis and left temporalis(p<0.05).

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2021

Purpose: At acupoint pressure, the pressing direction of all acupoints is usually vertical. However, it is not clear whether the vertical direction is toward the belly button or the body's center in the BL52. In this study, the effective direction of acupressure was studied by measuring the pressure pain threshold according to the direction of acupressure in 30 subjects. Methods: The distance from the subject's GV4 to the left and right BL52 and the distance from GV4 to the navel were measured, and then using the ellipse where the left and right BL52 of GV4 pass through the navel, the angles of the navel direction and the body's center were calculated in the left and right BL52. The pressure at the time when the subjects felt pain while pressing the BL52 in two directions was used as the acupressure pain threshold. The pain threshold was measured 3 times at 3 minute intervals on the left and right BL52s of the subject. Results: The acupressure pain threshold measured in the left and right BL52 of the subjects was significantly decreased when pressed toward the trunk center (p < .05). In BL52, it was more sensitive to pressure when the direction of pressure is toward the body's center. Conclusions: Acupressure therapy of acupoint is more sensitive to external stimuli than the surrounding. In this study, acupressure directed toward the trunk center is more efficient than toward the belly button in BL52.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.379-385
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to determine the immediate effects of pulsed magnetic field (PMF) in subjects with upper trapezius (UT) trigger point (TrP). Methods: Fifteen subjects with UT TrP were recruited for the study's PMF group (pain threshold=$2.29kg/cm^2$), and 15 age-, weight-, and gender-matched subjects with UT TrP were recruited for control group (pain threshold=$2.25kg/cm^2$). Pressure algometer was used to measure pressure pain threshold on UT TrP and, cervical range of motion (ROM) inclinometer was used to measure cervical ROM. Surface electromyography was used to record UT, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior muscle activity and relative ratio during scapular plane abduction between pre- and post-treatment. Results: The PMF effectively improved pain threshold and concurrently increased ROM (rotation to the painful side, lateral flexion to the nonpainful side). In addition, the PMF may effectively deactivate UT activity during abduction and the muscle activity ratio between UT and serratus anterior. Conclusion: These findings provided empirical evidence that PMF can be an effective treatment method to reduce pain threshold, to increase cervical ROM, and deactivate UT activity in individuals with TrP.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of iontophoresis on transdermal delivery of procaine hydrochloride in healthy volunteers, as well as to the synergic effect of high voltage current or ultrasound on the efficacy of transdermal delivery of iontophoresis. Forty healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to four groups topical application group (TA), iontophoresis group (IT), pre-treatment of high voltage current stimulation with iontophoresis (HVS + IT), and pre-treatment of ultrasound application with iontophoresis (US + IT). All subjects received procaine iontophoresis on the forearm using direct current with 4 mA f3r 15 minutes. All subject was measured the duration of local anesthesia, pressure pain threshold, pain perception threshold using rectangular wave at 0.2 ms, 1 ms, 50 ms of rectangular current stimulation after procaine iontophoresis. For comparisons of the sensory characteristics and efficacy of iontophoresis between the groups, an one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis were used. The significant difference the duration of local anesthesia were found between the groups (p<0.001). The local anesthetic duration of IT, HVS+IT were significantly longer than TA. Meanwhile, the local anesthetic duration of US+IT was significantly longer than HVS+IT, IT and TA group (p<0.05). Also, the pressure pain threshold, pain perception threshold at 0.2 ms, 1 ms, 50 ms were significant difference between the groups (p<0.001). All sensory characteristics including pressure pain threshold, pain perception threshold of IT, HVS+IT was significantly increased than TA, whereas, US+1T was significantly increased HVS+1T, IT and TA (p<0.05). This study showed that the procaine iontophoresis have increase the duration of local anesthesia concomitantly pressure pain threshold and pain perception threshold of sensory nerve fibers such as $A-{\beta}$, $A-{\delta}$ and C fiber. This findings suggest that the iontophoresis enhanced the transdermal delivery of drug ions in vivo. The combination of ultrasound application and iontophoresis synergized the transdermal delivery of drug ions. It is suggests that an electric field, mechanical and heating property of ultrasound may contribute to synergic effect due to temporary changes of structure in the stratum corneum.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2005

Objective : This study was performed to compare needle acupuncture combined herbal acupuncture therapy with only needle acupuncture therapy in VAS and pain threshold. Methods : We used pressure algometer to evaluate the change of pain threshold before and after treatment. The numberical value of pressure algometer is obtained twice and averaged by identical acupuncturist. Visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to estimate the efficacy of needle acupuncture combined herbal acupuncture therapy. Result : The following results were obtained; 1. The significant difference in VAS was showed before and after treatment in only needle acupuncture therapy. 2. The significant difference in pain threshold and VAS was showed before and after treatment in needle acupuncture combined herbal acupuncture therapy. 3. In the pain threshold, the significant difference between only needle acupuncture and needle acupuncture combined herbal acupuncture therapy was not showed. 4. Needle acupuncture combined herbal acupuncture therapy showed the more effective change of VAS than only needle acupuncture therapy. Conclusions : In the pain control, needle acupuncture combined herbal acupuncture therapy is more effective than only needle acupuncture therapy.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of experimenter gender on pain report as well as the sex differences in pain threshold and pain tolerance. Cold pressor test and pressure pain threshold (PPT) test were performed on forty dental students by both of a male and a female experimenter separately with 1 day interval. The obtained results were as follows : There were no differences in pain threshold and pain tolerance between males and females when they were examined by the same gender experimenter in the cold pressor test, but when they were examined by the opposite gender experimenter the pain threshold of males was significantly higher than females. When the pain threshold was measured by the same gender experimenter, using a algometer, there was no differences in PPT between males and females. However, when the same measurements were done by the opposite gender experimenter, the PPT of males was significantly higher than females at anterior temporalis and inferior masseter. For cold pressor test, females tended to report lower levels of pain threshold and pain tolerance to a male experimenter than a female, but the differences were not significant. Although both pain threshold and pain tolerance were increased when males were examined by a female experimenter in the cold pressor test, the statistical significance was found only in pain tolerance. When subjects were examined by the opposite gender experimenter in the PPT text, females reported significantly higher levels of pain at inferior masseter and males reported significantly lower levels of pain at anterior temporalis and inferior masseter.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.4 s.59
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• pp.779-790
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• 1997

The Association between myofascial pain syndrome and some tests was assessed in a cross-sectional study of 904 female telephone operators using video display terminals(VDTs). 105 cases were diagnosed as Myofascial pain syndrome with symptom questionnaire, laboratory examination and physician's physical examination and 550 controls were defined to show only musculoskeletal symptoms using NIOSH symptom criteria. Data on demographics, musculoskeletal symptom and visual analogue scale(VAS) were obtained by questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements, pressure pain threshold, Grip & Pinch strength and laboratory test were conducted. No significant difference between case and control at comparing of demographics, occupational history and body measurements were observed. But, Grip strength, pressure pain threshold and VAS showed the statistical difference between case and controt. Age, pressure pain threshold of Rt. Upper trapezius and VAS were associated with myofascial pain syndrome in multivariate logistic regression analysis. This results suggest that, to diagnose of myofascial pain syndrome, the consideration of the objective aspects among patients' subjective symptom complaints through the VAS and pressure pain threshold is required.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.147-159
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• 2004

Objective : This study was designed to estimate the effects of Rainbow Power therapy on neck pain patients by using Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) and pressure algometer. Methods : Rainbow Power therapy group consisted of 18 patients and acupuncture therapy group consisted of 7 patients. The degree of improvement of neck pain was evaluated by VAS and pain pressure threshold(at the points of Jianjing GB21 and Jianwaishu SI14) before treatment, before 3rd treatment and before 5th treatment. Rainbow Power therapy was performed at the points of Jianjing GB21, Zhongfu LU1, Yangxi LI5, Ganshu BL18, Weishu BL21 and Shenshu, BL23. Each points were stimulated with RP-UM103(Rainbow Power therapy instrument) for 20 seconds. The points of acupuncture therapy were Jeonggeun, Jeongjong, Sangbaekn and Hegu LI4 and acupuncture was maintained for 15 minutes. After above therapy dry cupping was performed at the points of Jianjing GB21, Jianwaishu SI14, Gaohuang BL43, Tianzong, SI11 and Bingfeng SI12 for 5 minutes. Results : There was no significant difference between the two groups in VAS, pain threshold of Jianjing GB21 and Jianwaishu SI14 following treatment. In the two groups VAS was significantly decreased. In Rainbow Power therapy group the pain threshold of the two points was significantly increased. But there was no significant increase in acupuncture therapy groups about the pain threshold of Jianwaishu SI14. Conclusions : The effectiveness of Rainbow Power therapy on neck pain was shown through VAS and pressure algometer. These imply that Rainbow Power therapy may be useful for neck pain. Further study is needed about Rainbow Power therapy.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.5-10
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was designed to estimate the effects of BU herbal acupuncture theraphy on low back pain of sprain patients by using Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) and pressure algometer. Methods : 13 volunteers were applied to BU herbal acupuncture stimulation on the BL23, BL24, BL25 and BL26 acupoints. The degree of improvement of low back pain of sprain was evaluated by VAS and pain pressure threshold(at the points of BL23 and BL24 before treatment, before 3rd treatment(after herbal acupuncture). Results : In VAS scores, there were significant differences between before and after herbal acupuncture stimulation. But there was no significant difference between before and after herbal acupuncture stimulation in pain threshold. Conclusions : The effectiveness of BU herbal acupuncture theraphy on low back pain of sprain was shown through VAS and pressure algometer. These imply that BU herbal acupuncture theraphy may be useful for low back pain of sprain. Further study is needed about BU herbal acupuncture.