• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.19-25
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• 1992

The pressure pain thresholds of head and neck muscles of patients suffering from tensiontype headache220, all female, ages ranged from 13 to 50 years (28.4$\pm$9.6) and 39 healthy controls, all female, ages ranged from 14 to 46 years (24.4$\pm$9.2) were recorded by the electronic algometer (Electyronic Algometer Type I, Somedic, Stockholm, Sweden). And the obtained results were as follows : 1. The pressure pain thresholds of patient group were lower than those of controls in superior sternocleidomastoid muscle, middle sternocleidomastoid muscle, and trapezius insertion muscle (P<0.001) 2. The pressure pain thresholds of patient group were not different from those of controls in anterior temporal, middle temporal, posterior temporal, deep masseter, anterior masseter, inferior masseter, medial pterygoid, posterior digastric, splenius capitus and upper trapezius muscle (P>0.05). 3. Seventy-one percent of tension-type headache patients had more than one muscle, of whicb pressure pain threshold was lowered significantly (less than mean of control - 1.5SD). 4. The pressure pain thresholds of head and neck muscles should be considered as a criterion for the diagnosis of tension-type headache.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2023

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the abdominal cavity between functional dyspepsia patients and healthy people using an algometer combined with an ultrasound device. Methods : A non-randomized, controlled, pilot trial was conducted. Thirty patients in the experimental group and fifteen participants in the control group were recruited. We collected demographical data, and measured abdominal circumference, height of the body cavity, subcutaneous fat thickness, visual analogue scale of dyspepsia symptoms in the experimental group, depth of algometer and pressure of algometer when pressure pain occurred, and the whole ultrasonic image from the beginning of pressurization to the time when pressure pain occurred. The measurements were carried out twice with the duration of 1 week. Generalized linear regression was conducted to adjust baseline characteristics. Results : A total of 45 participants (30 in experimental group, 15 in control group) were recruited and finished the trial. Females were recruited more in the experimental group than in the control group and it was statistically significant. The difference in thickness of abdominal cavity between a second before the pressure pain and at the time when pressure pain occurred was statistically significant on 1st visit, and other measurements were not statistically significant. From the results of the regression analysis, the difference between two groups was statistically significant in the differences in the thickness of stomach and up to abdominal aorta on 1st visit, and the thickness of stomach on 2nd visit, and other measurements were not statistically different. Conclusions : According to the results, there were not statistically significant differences in abdominal examination when pressure pain occurred between dyspepsia patients and healthy people. Further studies are warranted to assess the abdominal examination using devices including algometer and ultrasound devices, regarding the results of the present study.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.258-263
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• 2021

Purpose: Myofascial syndrome is a chronic muscle pain caused by repetitive motions with stress-related muscle tension. This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the evidence for diagnosing myofascial pain syndrome in trapezius muscle using a pressure algometer and surface electromyography. Methods: The experiments were performed using a total of 10 subjects, and the target locations were determined by means of a pressure algometer in the right upper trapezius muscle. The part with the lowest pain value as the trigger point and the part with the highest pain value as the non-pain trigger point were selected for measuring the locations. The median frequency and average frequency were measured in those locations with electromyography. To check the muscle fatigue, the upper trapezius muscle was moved up and down for 2 seconds at 5-second intervals in 30 seconds. The measured values were evaluated using the independent paired t-test and MannWhitney U-test. Results: The median frequency at the non-trigger point (13.7) was significantly higher than that at the trigger point (7.3). Furthermore, the mean frequency (14.7) at the non-trigger point was significantly higher than that at the trigger point (6.3). Conclusion: The results showed the correlations between the trigger points of the muscle pain and frequency analysis of surface electromyography. Thus, this study may be possible to use as a diagnostic tool for myofascial pain syndrome.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.100-104
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to observe the effectiveness of the Korean medical complex treatments for functional dyspepsia (FD). And we observed NDI-K (Nepean dyspepsia index-Korean version) and algometer on acupoints to confirm the treatment effectiveness. In this retrospective study, we investigated 77 patients with FD symptoms who admitted to 00 Korean Hospital for 2 weeks from April 14, 2020 to March 31, 2021. All patietns were treated with herbal medicines, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxa treatment, aroma therapy, So-jeok and So-jeok II therapy. On the day of admission and discharge, NDI-K, algometer on acupoints (CV12, CV10, ST25, ST27, SP14) were examined twice. Among the NDI-K values, all 14 items except for poor breathing were decreased statistically significantly. The algometer values were increased statistically significantly in all acupoints (CV12, CV10, ST25, ST27, SP14). These results suggest that Korean medical treatment can be useful in the treatment of FD.

• 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.

• 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.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.498-510
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was designed to find out whether there is a correlation between qi-stagnation score and pressure pain threshold (PPT) on acupuncture point $CV_{17}$ in burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients. Methods : Thirty BMS patients who newly visited Oral Disease Clinic at the Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital were surveyed. The subjects were evaluated on age, illness duration, sex, self-assessed severity of BMS, qi-stagnation score, and PPT on 3 acupuncture points ($CV_{17}$, Rt. $SP_9$, Lt. $SP_9$). Results : There was significant correlation between age and PPT on $CV_{17}$ (p=0.005). Therefore, partial correlation analysis with age as control variable was done, and the result showed significant correlation between qi-stagnation score and PPT on $CV_{17}$ (p=0.001). Qi-stagnation diagnostic point by PPT on $CV_{17}$ was suggested as 3.8056 $kg/cm^2$ based on the fact that diagnostic score is 28.50 in the qi-stagnation questionnaire. Furthermore, considering that PPT is effected by age, we could attain qi-stagnation diagnostic equation of PPT on $CV_{17}$, that is suggested as $0.047{\times}(age)+0.848kg/cm^2$. PPT of 3 acupuncture points ($CV_{17}$, Rt. $SP_9$, Lt. $SP_9$) was compared, and the result showed that PPT was significantly lower on $CV_{17}$ (w/Rt $SP_9$: p=0.022, w/Lt. $SP_9$: p=0.012). Also, significance and correlation coefficient with qi-stagnation were higher on $CV_{17}$ (p<0.001, r=-0.620) than Rt. $SP_9$ (p=0.023, r=-0.413) or Lt. $SP_9$ (p=0.014, r=-0.444). Conclusions : The result of this study suggested that PPT on $CV_{17}$, measured quantitatively by algometer, had a strong correlation with qi-stagnation score in BMS patients. Therefore, the study showed that $CV_{17}$ can be a useful acupuncture point in diagnosing qi-stagnation by measuring PPT in BMS patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.27-34
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to find out factors(shoulder level, acromion-occipital length, spine alignment, spine-scapula inferior angle length) of pain of neck & shoulder by 3 Dimensional Moire Scanner. 50 female student s aged 20 to 25 years old participated who lived in Sun-cheon si Jeonnam. They were examined with three measurement methods(Visual Analogue Scale : VAS, Algometer, 3 Dimensional Moire Scanner(IBS-2000). According to the results of multiple regression analysis. 1) There was a significant difference with shoulder level and spine-scapula inferior angle based on VAS. 2) There was a significant difference with shoulder level based of Algometer measurement value in Rhomboid muscles.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.77-87
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• 2002

Like acupuncture, magnetic therapy has been known to yield effectiveness when it is applied to relieve from fatigue, musculoskelectal diseases, sore sites, rheumatic arthritis and chronic pain syndromes. However, combined application of acupuncture and magnet has not yet been studied. This study is designed to investigate effectiveness of acupuncture therapy when in the magnetic field for the pain relief. Magnetic field was made by magnetic ring ($7{\psi}{\times}2.3{\psi}{\times}1.5mm$). Twenty-one male swimmers with latent muscular pain at the GB21 area in the university course of physical education in Daegu were chosen and divided into three groups; 1) acupuncture treatment group (n=7), 2) acupuncture treatment with iron ring group (n=7), 3) acupuncture treatment with magnetic ring group (n=7). Manual Acupuncture was given to the GB21 point for 20 minutes. The degree of pressure pain threshold (PPT, $kg/cm^2$) in GB21 was measured with algometer. Before acupuncture treatment, the PPT values were $6.08{\pm}1.69$, $6.39{\pm}1.72$ and $5.59{\pm}1.11$ in acupuncture treatment group, acupuncture treatment with iron ring group, acupuncture treatment with magnetic ring group, respectively. After acupuncture treatment, the PPT values were $6.48{\pm}2.33$, $6.31{\pm}1.31$ and $6.59{\pm}1.80$, respectively. Pressure threshold was significantly increased in the acupuncture treatment with magnetic ring group compared to the other groups. Based on these results, acupuncture treatment with magnetic ring produced better effects on pain threshold, and these effects can be considered to be associated with the currents or voltages induced by the acupuncture needle and magnetic ring at present.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.940-948
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• 2016

Objectives: This exploratory trial evaluated the possibility of quantitatively measuring several aspects during the "abdominal examination" of traditional Korean medicine. The main results of this study will be used to develop a new diagnostic device for abdominal examinations. Methods: Fifteen healthy volunteers were recruited for this study. Three certified Korean medical doctors assessed the existence of pressure pain, the elasticity of the abdominal muscle, and the tonus at CV12 as gold standards. Then, 2 well-trained investigators measured the pressure pain threshold (PPT), the indentation depth of a bar, and repelling force by pressing CV12. Each investigator measured the above 3 variables 2 times at 1 min intervals using a modified digital algometer. Reliability and validity tests of the 3 variables were performed. Results: There were statistically significant coefficients of intraclass correlation on the 3 variables both between and within the investigators (P<0.001). Also, PPT and repelling force showed statistically significant high sensitivity and specificity in a ROC curve. However, the indentation depth of the bar presented relatively low sensitivity. Conclusions: This new diagnostic method using a modified digital algometer could be a useful tool for quantitative measurement in "abdominal examinations". However, future rigorous clinical studies with a large population will be needed for the verification of its usefulness.