• 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.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.77-97
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this study is to introduce pain measurement tools that are considered suitable for clinical practice and research for Korean Medicine Doctors. Methods : We analysed some widely used and also useful pain measurement tools in terms of their methods and dimensions. Results : Diagrams, scales and questions are usually used to measure pain intensity, temporal pattern, treatment including exacerbating and/or relieving factors, pain location, pain interference, pain quality, pain affect, pain duration, pain beliefs and pain history. Specific pain measurements are also available for specific conditions such as Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Oswestry Disability Index and Neck Disability Index. Conclusions : Faces Pain Rating Scale, numeric rating scale, visual analogue scale, McGill Pain Questionnaire and Brief Pain Inventory and commonly used pain measurements. Specific measurements should be considered depending on research topics.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2015

Purpose: For this study, low back pain was analyzed by determining the influences of pain threshold, proprioceptive sense, and balance ability. Method: A total of 80 college students participated in this study with 30 adults regarded as normal and 50 adults regarded as having lower back pain. Measurements for participants regarding pain threshold, proprioception, and balance ability were conducted from April 10 to May 16, 2014. Result: Results from this study show significant differences between groups for back with regards to cold pain threshold, warm pain threshold measurements. There were also significant differences in proprioception for extension measurements. Finally, there were significant differences when comparing groups regarding balance for total balance score. Conclusion: With this data, practicing physical therapists can realize that a difference may exist between the patient's perception of treatment received and the actual treatment given by professionals due to differences in threshold, proprioception and balance ability. It is important for physical therapists to understand the reliance on objective data showing the effects of threshold, proprioception and balance ability on patients with back pain.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.65-75
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study is to validate the correlation between Pain Face Scale(PFS) and Numerical Rating Scale(NRS), and to find out the methods to assess headache by PFS. Methods : The study participants included 28 headache patients. All patients answered questionnair, which include PFS, NRS, and other questions for measurements headache. It is analyzed by frequency, correlation with spss windows 14.0. Results : 1. PFS include the strength of headache, and feelings. 2. PFS express strength of headache more than NRS. 3. There was no significant relationship between aspect and regions of headache. Conclusions : Therefore PFS is objective measurement scale of headache.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2020

PURPOSE: Postural and structural asymmetry due to muscle imbalances around the lower back and pelvis are the causes of back pain. Muscle imbalances in patients with chronic low back pain affect the pelvic tilt and movement, and it is necessary to assess the pelvic movement ability using the appropriate tools to determine the mediating effects of lower back pain. This paper reports the reliability and validity of the Sensbalance Therapy Cushion (STC) for pelvic movement and proprioception. METHODS: In this study, the Wii balance board (WBB) was used as a golden standard for pelvic movement measurements. FABQ, KODI, Myovision, and Pelvic movement were measured in 50 patients with chronic low back pain. The correlation between the lower-back muscle activity and pelvic movement was checked. The pelvic movement parameter was measured twice to determine the intra-rater reliability. RESULTS: The STC showed high test-retest reliability in the pelvic tilt measurements (ICC = .672 - .809). The test-retest reliability of proprioception measurements (ICC = .588 - .859) and reaction time measurements (ICC = .542 - .836) were also high. The relationship between the WBB and STC showed a significant positive correlation with the pelvic tilt test (p < .01). The posterior pelvic tilt and lower-back muscle activity showed a significant negative correlation (p < .01). The pelvic left tilt and lower-back muscle activity showed a significant negative correlation (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The results revealed the high reliability and validity of the STC. Therefore, the STC can be used as an objective measuring device for evaluating pelvic tilt, proprioception, and reaction time in low back pain patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of cervical deep muscle flexion exercise (CCFE) on craniovertebral angle, pain, and neck disability for patients with chronic neck pain Methods: The subjects of this study were randomly divided into three groups of 30 patients with chronic neck pain: rectus abodominis functional massage (n=10), cervical deep muscle flexion exercises group (n=10), and the control group(n=10). To assess visual analog scale (VAS) was used to test the neck pain, To assess neck posture was used to craniovertebral angle, VAS was used to test the neck pain, neck disability index (NDI) was used to test the neck dysfunction. All measurements were performed before and after each intervention was applied 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Results: In the results of all measurements, 2 groups except for the control group showed a significant change in the recovery of posture, neck pain, neck disability index (p<.05). Conclusions: Our results of this study showed that applying cervical deep muscle flexion exercise and rectus abodominis functional massage to patients with chronic neck pain improved cervical posture, neck pain, neck disability.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.71-82
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• 2024

Purpose: This study systematically analyzed the impact of aromatherapy on pain in individuals with diabetes. Methods: A search was performed in seven electronic databases based on the PICO-SD (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study Design) framework. The population (P) of interest was individuals with diabetes, and the intervention (I) included aromatherapy targeting pain reduction. The comparison (C) consisted of control groups that received no intervention, another intervention, or usual care. The outcome (O) measured was pain. The quality of the selected literature was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. In MIX 2.0 Pro, the pooled overall effect of pain was calculated using Hedge's g and a random-effects model, and heterogeneity was calculated using the Q statistic and Higgin's I2 values. Meta-regression and exclusion sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Five articles and seven studies were included, showing a significant pooled overall effect of aromatherapy on diabetes-related pain (Hedge's g = -1.83, 95% CI: -2.76 to -0.91). Meta-regression demonstrated that effectiveness in reducing pain was associated with studies conducted in West Asia, those with IRB approval, and those receiving funding. Additionally, interventions involving subjects under 60, lavender oil (vs. turpentine oil or blended oils), massage therapy (vs. topical application), fewer hours per session, and more repeated measurements (vs. pre/post measurements) were associated with pain reduction. Conclusion: Aromatherapy, especially with lavender oil, effectively manages diabetes-related pain. Short-duration massage application is also effective. A personalized selection of oil type and application method could optimize therapeutic outcomes for individuals with diabetes.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.29-38
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• 2009

Purpose : The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the phenol compound-cold therapy plus exercise therapy on the carrageenan(CAR)-induced muscle pain. Method : Mice were injected 0.1ml of 2% CAR into the gastrocmemius(GAS) muscle for the induction of muscle pain. After 4 hours from the injection of CAR, the cold therapy with 1% syringic acid was done to GAS muscle. After 2 hours from cold therapy, the exercise therapy such as muscle stretching, climing- and declining-movements was performed three times interval of 10 minutes in each experimental group. After 4, 10 and 24 hours from CAR-induced muscle pain, the measurements of muscle diameter, paw withdrawal latency(PWL) and, tail flick latency(TFL) were carried out. Results : In this study, the thickness of GAS muscle in CAR-induced muscle pain significantly increased compared with control. While, the thickness of GAS muscle adopted cold syringic acid-therapy with exercise-therapy group was significantly decreased than that of CAR-induced muscle pain. In the measurements of PWL and TFL, cold syringic acid-therapy with exercise-therapy group was remarkably increased than CAR-induced muscle pain group in PWL and TFL. All measurements were showed significantly different between the treated-group and the treated-time. Conclusions : From these results, it is suggested that the cold syringic acid-therapy with exercise-therapy such as muscle stretching, climing- and declining-movement was effective in the prevention of CAR-induced muscle pain by the decrease of muscle thickness and the increase of PWL and TFL.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2022

This study aimed to examine the changes in the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) scores before and after epidural steroid injection (ESI) in patients with lower back pain, and the correlation between the three scales in patients with reduced scores on these scales. Patients completed the NRS, ODI, and RMDQ before and after receiving ESI. A paired t-test was performed to compare the mean scores obtained before and after ESI. The correlations between the scores were estimated by calculating the difference between the baseline and follow-up scores. Of the 49 patients, 37 completed both questionnaire assessments. Among them, 26 patients (70%) presented a post-ESI decrease in scores obtained on all three scales. The NRS score decreased from 6.81±1.91 points at baseline to 3.66±2.22 points at follow-up (P<0.0001); similarly, the ODI score decreased from 41.65±14.76 to 30.38±16.16 points (P=0.0025); and the RMDQ score decreased from 11.11±5.68 to 7.64±5.74 points (P=0.011). Of the 37 patients who completed the two questionnaires, 26 had reduced NRS, ODI, and RMDQ scores. The intraclass correlation coefficients between the NRS and ODI, NRS and RMDQ, and ODI and RMDQ scores were 0.7943, 0.6615, and 0.7182, respectively. The concordance correlation coefficients between the NRS and ODI, NRS and RMDQ, and ODI and RMDQ scores were 0.6020, 0.4938, and 0.5202, respectively. Among the measurements, the correlation between the NRS and ODI scores was the highest, and a moderate correlation was found between the scores obtained using the other instruments.