• Clinical Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.105-121
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• 2021

Objective: Physiologically, the vastus medialis muscle is the first muscle to undergo muscle atrophy, and it was thought that pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis could be reduced if this muscle could be strengthened and stabilized. The purpose of this study was to prove the effectiveness in knee osteoarthritis using polydioxanone sutures that have been tried in other musculoskeletal areas. Method: Forty knee osteoarthritis patients voluntarily participated in the study, and divided into 30 polydioxanone suture needle (MEST-B2375 produced by Ovmedi Co.) and 10 sham needle (without suture). And the needles were inserted into the vastus medialis muscle. In all patients, safety evaluation including blood tests and ultrasonography as well as efficacy evaluation including isometric maximal contractile strength of quadriceps muscle, weight bearing pain, impression of change, quadriceps angle, rescue drug intake were evaluated up to 30 weeks after the procedure. Results: Isometric maximal contractile strength showed a significant improvement at 4 weeks after the procedure in the polydioxanone suture group, and the weight-bearing pain showed a significant improvement at every visit in the polydioxanone suture group compared with baseline values. Patient global impression of change score showed significant improvement at 20 and 30 weeks, and clinical score showed improvement at every visit. Conclusion: Insertion of polydioxanone sutures showed improvement in muscle strength and knee pain by supporting and fixation of the vastus medialis muscle in patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis. Insertion of polydioxanone sutures is considered to have a therapeutic effect in knee osteoarthritis patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.72-85
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• 2021

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation of the scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-I (STAI-I), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-II (STAI-II), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), and Core Seven Emotions Inventory-short form (CSEI-s) scales with pain improvement. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 66 traffic accident inpatients who satisfy the selection criteria. They had received Korean medical treatment including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, and Chuna during hospitalization. STAI-II, BDI, and CSEI-s scores on hospital day 1, and STAI-I and numerical rating scale(NRS) scores on hospital day 1, 4, 7, and 10 were used for analysis. Pain improvement was evaluated by difference in NRS scores between hospital day 1 and hospital day 4, 7, 10. Results: The STAI-I, BDI, and CSEI-s scores showed significant correlations with pain or pain improvement. Conclusions: This study may be used in the research on psychological state and pain management of traffic accident patients and for patient education. Large-scale, well-designed studies need to be conducted in future to strengthen the results in this regard.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.154-157
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• 2007

Background: Anosmia can be frustrating for both the patient and physician, with no clear treatment. We prospectively investigated the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) in anosmic patients who were unresponsive to conventional steroid therapy. Methods: Thirteen patients with anosmia were treated with SGB. To evaluate the improvement in olfactory function, we evaluated both changes in subjective symptoms and the butanol threshold test. The number of SGB required for improvement in olfactory function was counted. Results: Seven patients (54%) showed improvement of olfactory function with SGB. The average number of SGB for the first response was $7.4{\pm}5.9times$. Conclusions: These results suggest that SGB may be a good treatment modality for patients with anosmia unresponsive to steroid therapy.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.351-355
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• 2021

Objective: Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common upper extremity compressive nerve disorders in modern people. Various conservative treatments such as taping, exercise, and electrotherapy have been applied to carpal tunnel syndrome and their effectiveness has been proven. This study aims to determine whether home exercise combined with taping is effective for pain and functional disability in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Design: Randomized controlled study Methods: 21 patients were recruited and were randomly divided into HEx+T (Home exercise+taping) group (n=10) and HEx (Home exercise) group (n=11). All participants performed Home exercise(tendon and neural gliding exercise) 5 times a week for 6 weeks. Additionally, subject in the HEx group, taping was applied over the wrist and forearm during the training period. Wrist pain was measured by VAS (Visual Analogue Scale). Functional disability was measured using a BCTSQ(The Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire). Results: Both the HEx+T group and the HEx group showed a significant improvement in wrist pain(p<0.05), and the HEx+T group showed a more significant decrease in pain than the HEx group(p<0.05). There was a significant improvement in both groups in functional disability (p<0.05), and the HEX+T group showed more improvement than the HEX group(p<0.05). Conclusions: This study suggests that home exercise combined with taping is effective for pain and functional disability in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.234-238
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• 2022

A 53-year-old male who had received surgery on his right ankle joint 10 years previously was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome the following year. Despite various treatments (sympathetic nerve-block medication, pain relievers, corticosteroids, nerve blocks, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) over the years there was no improvement in his symptoms. Recently the patient was admitted to a Korean medicine hospital where he received treatment (acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal treatment) and his symptoms gradually showed improvement. The patient was concurrently on psychiatric medicine, antihistamine medication, and opioids for pain (when necessary). A decrease in numeric rating scale, Oswestry disability index scores, and an increase in the Korean version of the 5-level EuroQol-5 dimension score showed symptom improvement within 36 days. This study suggests complex Korean medicine treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome may result in a reduction in pain and improved quality of life.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.21-27
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study investigated the efficacy of interferential current (IFC) treatment on the improvement of pain, disability, and balance in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. METHODS: A double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted with 40 patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups: the IFC treatment group (n = 20) and the placebo treatment group (n = 20). The IFC group received 30 minutes of IFC treatment on the lumbar region, while the placebo group received IFC treatment without real electrical stimulation. The intervention was administered five days a week for two weeks. RESULTS: The primary outcomes of resting pain and pain during functional movement were measured by a visual analogue scale. The secondary measurements included the Oswestry disability index (ODI) for low back pain and postural sway. The measurements were performed before and after the two-week intervention period. Compared to the placebo treatment group, the IFC treatment group showed significantly greater improvement in pain during anterior trunk flexion in the standing position (p = .029), ODI (p = .039), and postural sway when subjects stood with their eyes closed (p = .010) at the end of the intervention. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that IFC treatment can improve pain, disability, and postural sway, thus, highlighting the benefits of somatosensory stimulation from IFC.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.343-350
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• 2021

Objective: The most common type of cancer in women is breast cancer, and pain in the upper extremity and trunk is a discomfort experienced by more than half. Based on the evidence that manual therapy is effective for pain control in postoperative rehabilitation, this study aims to analyze the effects of manual therapy on upper extremity pain and function in patients after breast cancer surgery. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PEDro, and CINAHL databases until August 2021. We included randomized controlled trial evaluating pain and function in patients after breast cancer surgery. Qualitative analysis was performed using Cochrane's risk of bias tool, and quantitative analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 to analyze post-intervention outcomes. Results: Four randomized controlled trials were selected to evaluate the effects of upper extremity pain and function in 133 patients who underwent manual therapy after breast cancer surgery. In the results of qualitative and quantitative analysis, the experimental group treated with manual therapy showed a significant improvement in pain compared to the control group (-0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.97 to -0.27). However, there was no significant improvement in upper extremity function (-0.09; 95% CI -0.43 to 0.25). Conclusions: Current evidence shows that manual therapy is effective for pain control in patients who complain of upper extremity pain after breast cancer surgery.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2003

Objective : The purpose of this report is to usee more Chuna treatment clinically by comparing the improvement of Back pain and Sciatica between Common treatment Group and Common treatment with Chuna treatment Group. Methods : This study was carried out on 30 patients with Back pain and Sciatica who ere hospitalized in Dongshin Univ. Oriental Hospital form April 2001 to December, 2002. Group A of 15 patients wer taken both common treatment and Chuna treatment. And Group B of 15 patients were only taken common treatment. And after 10 days of admission, we checked and compared VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) and improvement index out of these two groups. Results : The result of the VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) and improvement index of comparison analysis between two groups after 10 days, shows that the improvement of Back pain and Sciatica in Common treatment with Chuna treatment Group is more effective than that in Common treatment Group.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.101-103
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• 2006

Oral prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is a medicine that is clinically applied during a treatment of patients suffering with vascular disease with chronic arterial obstruction because it has vasodilation and anti-platelet effects. The mechanisms of lumbosacral symptoms associated with spinal stenosis probably include vascular insufficiency with hypoxic injury to the cauda equina and the nerve roots. Thus, increasing the blood supply would be beneficial to improve the pathophysiologic condition. Several studies on the improvement of clinical symptoms of spinal stenosis by PGE1 treatment have been reported on. In this case, 47-year old female underwent posterior compression and posterolateral fusion with a cage at L2-4 due to L3 compression fracture, and she did not show improvement of the radiating pain of her right leg after the operation. Therefore, she received repetitive epidural catheterization and adhesiolysis, epidural block and physical therapy, but her symptoms deteriorated after temporary improvement. Finally, she was given PGE1 and the radiculopathy was completely improved, although some muscle weakness still remained.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of early puerperium symptoms and Blood Stasis Index in women during the first two weeks after childbirth. Methods: 38 women staying at Korean postpartum management facilities were studied. Questionnaires were filled out on the date of arrival and departure. Changes in overall physical conditions including neuropsychiatric, circulatory, digestive, musculoskeletal, and urogenital and breast symptoms as well as Blood Stasis Pattern were studied. Results: 1. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were shown in order of Depressed Feeling, Insomnia, Dizziness, Headache, and Easy to Anger and Nervous on arrival. All symptoms showed improvement after two weeks, without significance. 2. Circulatory symptoms were shown in order of Excessive Sweating, Edema, Fatigue, Hot Flash, Anemic Feeling, Alternating Chills and Fever, Cold Hypersensitivity, Chills, Oppression in the Chest, and Palpitation on arrival. Hot Flash, Excessive Sweating, and Edema showed significant improvement after two weeks. 3. Digestive symptoms were shown in order of Dyspepsia, Dry Mouth, Constipation, and Loss of Appetite. All symptoms showed improvement after two weeks, without significance. 4. Pain of Muscles & Joints showed improvement after two weeks, without significance. Pain of Teeth & Gingiva showed slight worsening after two weeks, without significance. 5. Urogenital and Breast symptoms were shown in order of Wound Pain, Fever and Distending Pain in the Breast, and Lower Abdominal Pain on arrival. All symptoms showed significant improvement after two weeks. 6. Blood Stasis Index showed significant improvement after two weeks. Conclusion: Most symptoms were improved in women staying at Korean postpartum management facilities for two weeks. Hot Flash, Excessive Sweating, Edema, Wound Pain, Lower Abdominal Pain, Fever and Distending Pain in the Breast and Blood Stasis Index showed significant improvement.