• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of physical therapy provided at home on the motor function, activity of daily living (ADL), and level of pain in veterans men with disabilities, and to provide the information. METHODS: The participants were 108 patients men with disabilities living in the cities Seoul, Pusan, Daegu, Gwangju and Daejeon; they performed physical therapy at home-provided by physical therapy services- that included therapeutic exercise for 50 minute, 1~2 times a week for 24 weeks. The motor function was measured by using motor assessment scale (MAS) and ADL, the level of pain were recorded both before and after physical therapy. The data form both before and after physical therapy were analyzed by using the paired t-test. All statistical tests in this study were performed with the level of significance set at .05. RESULTS: After 24 weeks of physical therapy, we observed significant improvement in the MAS and ADL scale, as well as significant decrease in the level fo pain in the participants (p<.01). Significant improvement was also observed in the MAS and ADL scale, as well as a decrease in the level of pain among participants with stroke and spinal disease (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study show that physical therapy provided at home can lead to an improvement in the motor function as well as improved ADL and pain control; physical therapy also has positive effects in relieving symptoms of veterans with disabilities.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.507-510
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• 2013

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) neuromodulation of suprascpaular nerve (SSN) in patients with chronic shoulder pain due to adhesive capsulitis and/or rotator cuff tear. Methods : The study included 11 patients suffering from chronic shoulder pain for at least 6 months who were diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis (n=4), rotator cuff tear (n=5), or adhesive capsulitis+rotator cuff tear (n=2) using shoulder magnetic resonance imaging or extremity ultrasonography. After a favorable response to a diagnostic suprascapular nerve block twice a week (pain improvement >50%), PRF neuromodulation was performed. Shoulder pain and quality of life were assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) before the diagnostic block and every month after PRF neuromodulation over a 9-month period. Results : The mean VAS score of 11 patients before PRF was $6.4{\pm}1.49$, and the scores at 6-month and 9 month follow-up were $1.0{\pm}0.73$ and $1.5{\pm}1.23$, respectively. A significant pain reduction (p<0.001) was observed. The mean OSS score of 11 patients before PRF was $22.7{\pm}8.1$, and the scores at 6-month and 9 month follow-up were $41.5{\pm}6.65$ and $41.0{\pm}6.67$, respectively. A significant OSS improvement (p<0.001) was observed. Conclusion : PRF neuromodulation of the suprascapular nerve is an effective treatment for chronic shoulder pain, and the effect was sustained over a relatively long period in patients with medically intractable shoulder pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.187-191
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• 2005

Background: Discogenic leg pain is a major cause of health problems, often due to herniation of the intervertebral disc, and has traditionally been treated conservatively or with an open surgical discectomy. Conventional open surgery has many complications, such as nerve root injury, discitis and a relatively high mortality rate; failure of conservative treatments is also common. Recently, the $Dekompressor^{(R)}$ Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy probe was developed. Herein, we present the early results for a percutaneous lumbar discectomy in herniated lumbar disc disease. Methods: Eleven patients, including 8 men and 3 women, with ages ranging from 22 to 78 years, were enrolled in this study. Those patients with a previous history of back surgery were not excluded from the study. All patients were postoperatively evaluated for their clinical outcomes, such as visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain after 1 and 3 months, reduction in analgesics, functional improvement and overall satisfaction. Results: The percutaneous lumbar discectomy was completed in 11 patients (17 levels), with average reductions in pre-VAS of 61.3 and 60.2% at 1 and 3 months, respectively. Also, 72.7% of patients reported functional improvement, with 81.1% expressing overall satisfaction. There were no procedural related complications. Conclusions: We concluded that a percutaneous lumbar discectomy is a safe and effective treatment modality for a herniated lumbar disc.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.39-47
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• 2009

Background: To evaluate the effects of Australian stabilization exercise for chronic low back pain. Methods: Interventions consisted of exercises aimed at recovery of Multifidus in cocontraction with Transverse abdominis through neural control retraining. Results: After exercise, there were significant improvement(p<.05) in pain and disability score. Conclusions: Neural control stabilization exercise can be effective intervention for chronic Low Back Pain patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.42-49
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• 2003

Purpose : In order to study the effectiveness of East-West pain treatment on central poststroke pain(CPSP), we evaluated its effect on alleviation of pain and rehabilitation of CPSP patients who were treated with eletroacupuncture and west pain treatment for four weeks. Methods : Twenty four patients diagnosed by their pain characteristics of central pain form stroke were treated with sympathetic nerve block, gabapentin, amitriptyline, and electroacupuncture for four weeks. Pain intensity through the visual analogue scale(VAS), and improvements of mobility and rehabilitation through the modified Barthel index(MBI) and Rankin scale(RS), respectively, before and after pain treatment were also assessed. Results : VAS pain scores were significantly improved from $7.7{\pm}1.7$ to $4.4{\pm}2.0$ with pain treatment(p<0.05). In accordance with improvement of ain scores, RS and MBI scores ere also improved from $2.88{\pm}0.95$ to $2.13{\pm}1.01$ and from $83.0{\pm}16.9$ to $94.7{\pm}9.5$(p<0.05), respectively, with pain treatment(p<0.05). Conclusions : It was suggested that the active pain treatment was contributed to the rehabilitation of CPSP patients, resulting in improvement of quality of life of CPSP patients. Futhermore, East pain treatment in combination with West pain treatment may be useful modality to alleviate CPSP.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.84-91
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• 2002

Objective : The purpose of this report is to use more Shin Jong Gyuk of Ohaeng Acupuncture acupunture treatment clinically by comparing the Improvement of Back pain and Sciatica between Common Acupuncture treatment Group and Common Acupuncture with Shin Jong Gyuk of Ohaeng Acupuncture treatment Group. Methods : This study was carried out on 40 patients with Back pain and Sciatica who were hospitalized in Dongshin Univ. Oriental Hospital from 1st, April, 2001 to Tenth, November, 2001. Group A of 20 patients were taken both common acupunture treatment and Shin Jong Gyuk of Ohaeng Acupuncture treatment. And Group B of 20 patients were only taken common acupunture treatment. And after 10 days of admission, we checked and compared VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) and improvement index out of these two groups. SPSS(Statistical Program for Sdcial Science) for Window was used for a statistical analysis and the independent T-test was performed to gauge the improvement of VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) and improvement index out of these two groups, in which case, value of P below 0.05 is considered as useful. Results : The result of the VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) and improvement index of comparision analysis between two groups after 10 days, shows that the improvement of Back pain and Sciatica in Common Acupuncture treatment with Shin Tong Gyuk of Ohaeng Acupuncture treatment Group is more effective than that in Common Acupuncture treatment Group. (independent T-test improvement index P=0.21, VAS P=0.00)

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2017

Purpose: This randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of global postural reeducation to segmental stretching in subjects with neck and shoulder pain. Methods: Sixteen subjects with neck and shoulder pain were randomized into two intervention groups, a global posture reeducation group (n=8) that performed muscle chain stretching, and a segmental stretching group (n=8) that performed conventional static muscle stretching. The intervention program consisted of two 40 minutes individual sessions per week for four weeks. Subjects were evaluated pre-intervention, two-week after intervention and at a four-week follow-up appointment for pain intensity, disability and health-related quality of life. Two-way repeated analysis of variance was used for between-time and between-group comparisons. The significance level was 0.05. Results: Significant pain relief and decreasing discomfort of the neck and shoulder were observed after intervention in both groups, and there was an interaction between time lapse and groups (pain, F=10.31, neck disability, F=25.45, shoulder disability, F=12.82, p<0.05). Quality of life also improved after intervention in both groups. Moreover, the physical components score improved, and a significant interaction was observed between time and groups (F=4.85, p<0.05). However, no significant improvement in mental component score of quality of life and no significant interaction between time and groups were observed (p>0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that a GPR intervention in subjects with neck and shoulder pain induces greater improvement of pain and disability and quality of life than segmental stretching.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.69-80
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• 2015

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to apply joint mobilization in a sitting position and in a prone position to patients with acute mechanical neck pain and compare the immediate treatment effects in these two positions. METHODS: After the baseline was assessed, 46 patients were randomly assigned to two groups: experimental group I ($n_1=23$) for joint mobilization in the sitting position and experimental group II ($n_2=23$) for joint mobilization in the prone position at the symptomatic cervical level. The patients in both groups received treatment by unilateral posterior-anterior gliding for 30 seconds per trial, 10 trials per session, for a total of 5 minutes, and two trials of 10 active extending motions with distraction per trial. RESULTS: In the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, all the pain and physical function variables were significantly improved after intervention in both groups (p<.05). In the Mann-Whitney U test, which compared the differences before and after the intervention between the two groups, experimental group I showed significant improvement over experimental group II in resting pain (p<.01), satisfaction with the treatment (p=.01), left rotation (p<.01) and CCFE (p<.01). In the analysis of covariance results, experimental group I showed significant improvement over experimental group II in the most painful motion pain (p<.01) and the most painful quadrant motion pain (p<.01). CONCLUSION: These outcomes suggest that joint mobilization should be applied in sitting positions for patients with acute mechanical neck pain that feel pain during sustained positions, extension or rotation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to measure the effects of cervical stabilization exercises on neck pain, forward head posture, and the acoustic characteristics frequency and amplitude modulation of patients with chronic neck pain caused by forward head posture using pressure biofeedback. METHODS: 20 patients with chronic neck pain and voice disorders presenting at the S Exercise Center in Daegu, Korea, were included in the study. A cervical stabilization exercise program of 50 minutes per session was performed three times a week for eight weeks. Pressure biofeedback was utilized to determine the impact of the exercises on neck pain, forward head posture, and the acoustic characteristics of the patients. The measurements were taken prior to and after the intervention to determine any changes. RESULTS: A significant improvement in neck pain, craniovertebral angle and the acoustic characteristics frequency and amplitude modulation of the patients was demonstrated after the intervention (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Cervical stabilization exercises were demonstrated to have a significantly positive effect on neck pain, forward head posture, and vocalization stability in patients with chronic neck pain in the current study based on measurements taken using a pressure biofeedback system. This indicates that an improvement in forward head posture positively impacts postural stability and vocalization. Future studies investigating a greater range of interventions designed to improve neck pain and acoustical effects in patients with chronic neck pain and forward head posture patients are warranted.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.315-321
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• 2021

Background: Pillar pain may develop after carpal tunnel release surgery (CTRS). This prospective double-blinded randomized trial investigated the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in pillar pain relief and hand function improvement. Methods: The sample consisted of 60 patients with post-CTRS pillar pain, randomized into two groups. The ESWT group (experimental) received three sessions of ESWT, while the control group received three sessions of sham ESWT, one session per week. Participants were evaluated before treatment, and three weeks, three months, and six months after treatment. The pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Hand functions were assessed using the Michigan hand outcomes questionnaire (MHQ). Results: The ESWT group showed significant improvement in VAS and MHQ scores after treatment at all time points compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Before treatment, the ESWT and control groups had a VAS score of 6.8 ± 1.3 and 6.7 ± 1.0, respectively. Three weeks after treatment, they had a VAS score of 2.8 ± 1.1 and 6.1 ± 1.0, respectively. Six months after treatment, the VAS score was reduced to 1.9 ± 0.9 and 5.1 ± 1.0, respectively. The ESWT group had a MHQ score of 54.4 ± 7.7 before treatment and 73.3 ± 6.8 six months after. The control group had a MHQ score of 54.2 ± 7.1 before treatment and 57.8 ± 4.4 six months after. Conclusions: ESWT is an effective and a safe non-invasive treatment option for pain management and hand functionality in pillar pain.