• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.129-132
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• 2019

Regional anesthesia, including central and plane blocks (serratus anterior plane block and erector spinae block), are used for post-thoracotomy pain. The rhomboid intercostal block (RIB) is mainly performed by injection to the upper intercostal muscle plane below the rhomboid muscle. It has been reported to provide analgesia at the T3-T9 levels. The RIB was performed on 5 patients who had been scheduled for thoracotomy. The catheter was advanced in the area under the rhomboid muscle between the intercostal muscles. Postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores were observed and each patient's resting VAS score remained below 3 for 48 hours. The RIB has been observed to be a convenient plane block for post-thoracotomy analgesia. We believe that further information from detailed studies is required.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.21-33
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was to report the improvement of the patient with multiple sclerosis treated by Korean Medical treatment. Methods : The patient diagnosed as multiple sclerosis treated by acupuncture, bee venom pharmacupuncture, chuna manual therapy, and herbal medicine. To evaluate the effects of korean medicine, we used manual muscle test(MMT), the standard for assessment of the effect of stroke treatment, functional system(FS), visual analog scale(VAS). Results : 1. The patient's pain and optic dysfunction were reduced by the above therapy. 2. There was no change in manual muscle test(MMT), but there was mild improvement in finger joints function in the standard for assessment of the effect of stroke treatment. 3. In functional system(FS) scale, there was enhancement in optic function within a range. And there was improvement in expanded disability statue scale(EDSS) from 4.0 to 3.0. 4. In visual analog scale(VAS), there was considerable improvement from 9 to 6. Conclusions : The korean medical treatment was reduced pain and optic dysfunction.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.188-200
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• 2024

This review explores the essential methodologies for effective postoperative pain management, focusing on the need for thorough pain assessment tools, as underscored in various existing guidelines. Herein, the strengths and weaknesses of commonly used pain scales for postoperative pain-the Visual Analog Scale, Numeric Rating Scale, Verbal Rating Scale, and Faces Pain Scale-are evaluated, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate assessment tools based on factors influencing their effectiveness in surgical contexts. By emphasizing the need to comprehend the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for these scales in evaluating new analgesic interventions and monitoring pain trajectories over time, this review advocates recognizing the limitations of common pain scales to improve pain assessment strategies, ultimately enhancing postoperative pain management. Finally, five recommendations for pain assessment in research on postoperative pain are provided: first, selecting an appropriate pain scale tailored to the patient group, considering the strengths and weaknesses of each scale; second, simultaneously assessing the intensity of postoperative pain at rest and during movement; third, conducting evaluations at specific time points and monitoring trends over time; fourth, extending the focus beyond the intensity of postoperative pain to include its impact on postoperative functional recovery; and lastly, interpreting the findings while considering the MCID, ensuring that it is clinically significant for the chosen pain scale. These recommendations broaden our understanding of postoperative pain and provide insights that contribute to more effective pain management strategies, thereby enhancing patient care outcomes.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.161-170
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• 2019

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the effects of a thoracic flexibility exercise program on pain, heart rate variability (HRV), and depression in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods : Fifty patients with chronic low back pain participated in this study. Each participant performed a pre-test and post-test. The outcome measures evaluated were a visual analog scale, HRV test results (automatic activity, standard deviation normal to normal [SDNN], low frequency [LF], high frequency [HF], and LF/HF ratio), and the Beck Depression Inventory. Patients underwent conventional physiotherapy for 35 minutes per session. In addition, a thoracic flexibility exercise program (trunk rotation exercise, McKenzie exercise, and supine thoracic extension exercise) were performed 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Results : After the training period, the visual analog scale results showed a significant decrease in the post-test compared to the pre-test. Automatic activity, SDNN, LF, HF, and LF/HF ratio significantly increased in the post-test compared to the pre-test. The Beck depression inventory results significantly decreased in the post-test compared to the pre-test. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that a thoracic flexibility exercise program improves a visual analog scale, HRV (automatic activity, SDNN, LF, HF, and LF/HF ratio), and the Beck Depression Inventory in patients with chronic low back pain.

• 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.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.61-68
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• 2006

Objectives : The Purpose of this report is to examine the effect of Remote Acupuncture Point Needling in the Low Back Pain patient of Acute Stage. Methods : From October 1st 2005 to May 31th 2006, 30 cases of low back pain patients at acute stage were divided into 2 groups; one group(control group) took near acupuncture point needling, and the other group(test group) took near acupuncture point needling with remote acupuncture point needling. For evaluating change of pain, Visual Analog Scale(VAS) was checked before and after Treatment. Results : Both acupuncture therapy showed good effect on low back pain of acute stage. And test group showed better effect on decreasing pain than control group. It was proved by the difference between VAS checked before treatment and what checked after treatment. But it was not significant statistically. Conclusion : Near acupuncture point needling and remote acupuncture point needling can be recommended as a useful therapy to treat low back pain of acute stage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.509-514
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• 2012

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare the effects of upper backbone joint mobilization and self-stretching exercise in the patients with chronic neck pain. METHODS: Thirty seven patients with chronic neck pain were divides into self stretching group(SSG, n=18) and mobilization group(MG, n=19). To assess the degree of neck pain, the visual analog scale (VAS) was utilized, and to measure the joint range of motion at the flexion-extension, it was compared and analyzed by using the cervical range of motion (CROM) device. RESULTS: The joint range of motion and visual analog scale of SSG and MG showed significant effects on both groups. In the comparison of groups, there was no significant difference, but it indicated effects on improving the pain and the range of joint motion in MG. CONCLUSION: According to the analysis, not only self-stretching exercise intervening for direct treatment but also upper backbone joint mobilization intervening for indirect treatment are effective to improve the pain and the range of motion.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.27-34
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• 2005

Objectives : To evaluate the pain improvement of the frozen shoulder patients taken the electro-acupuncture therapy using Visual Analogue Scale. Methods : The 38 frozen shoulder patients visited department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion in National Medical Center from 1st September 2004 to 28th February 2005 had taken the electroacupuncture therapy or body-acupuncture therapy more than 3 times.(Electroacupuncture group was 24 persons and body-acupuncture group was 14 persons.) We evaluated their improvement of shoulder pain using Visual Analog Scale(VAS) at each visit. Then we analyzed the pain improvement comparing with two groups. Results : Both VAS scores of electroacupuncture group and body-acupuncture group have significantly improved. VAS score at third visit of electroacupuncture group and body-acupuncture group have significantly improved. VAS score at third visit of electroacupuncture group was significantly lower than that of body-acupuncture group (p=0.0057). The decreased VAS score after first visit of electroacupuncture group was also significantly higher than that of body-acupuncture group(p=0.0225). Conclusion : The pain of electroacupuncture group decreased more than body-acupuncture group at early visit. But the total decreased VAS scores of two groups was not significantly different.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.243-249
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• 2017

Pain is subjective, while statistics related to pain research are objective. This review was written to help researchers involved in pain research make statistical decisions. The main issues are related with the level of scales that are often used in pain research, the choice of statistical methods between parametric or nonparametric statistics, and problems which arise from repeated measurements. In the field of pain research, parametric statistics used to be applied in an erroneous way. This is closely related with the scales of data and repeated measurements. The level of scales includes nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales. The level of scales affects the choice of statistics between parametric or non-parametric methods. In the field of pain research, the most frequently used pain assessment scale is the ordinal scale, which would include the visual analogue scale (VAS). There used to be another view, however, which considered the VAS to be an interval or ratio scale, so that the usage of parametric statistics would be accepted practically in some cases. Repeated measurements of the same subjects always complicates statistics. It means that measurements inevitably have correlations between each other, and would preclude the application of one-way ANOVA in which independence between the measurements is necessary. Repeated measures of ANOVA (RMANOVA), however, would permit the comparison between the correlated measurements as long as the condition of sphericity assumption is satisfied. Conclusively, parametric statistical methods should be used only when the assumptions of parametric statistics, such as normality and sphericity, are established.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this report is to prove the effect of The Daoyin exercise program combined with Korean medicine treatment on supraspinatus tendon tear. Methods : Two patients, diagnosed with Supraspinatus tendon tear by shoulder MRI, were treated with The Daoyin exercise program and Korean medicine treatment. VAS(Visual analog scale), ROM(Range of motion) and Physical examination were used to evaluate patients. Results of application : The Daoyin exercise program combined with Korean medicine treatment reduced shoulder pain and improved shoulder ROM of the two patients significantly. Conclusions : The Daoyin exercise program combined with Korean medicine treatment is proved to be effective treatment for reducing pain and improving shoulder ROM of supraspinatus tendon tear patients.