• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.194-201
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• 2012

This study was designed to investigate the effect of a combined stimulus which was composed of chiropractic massage and thermotherapy on the relief of mental and physical stress. Fifteen healthy male subjects were treated with three type of stimuli; control (without any stimulus), a single stimulus (only chiropractic) and a combined stimulus. To evaluate the effects of stimuli, visual analogue scale (VAS), trunk extension, electromyogram (EMG) on erector spinae muscle and electrocardiogram (ECG) were measured and analyzed before and after stimuli. In the control group, there were no significant changes in EMG root mean square (RMS) value and low Frequency/high Frequency (LF/HF) ratio (p > 0.05, p > 0.05). However, both stimulus groups showed significant increases in trunk extension and EMG RMS values (p < 0.05, p < 0.05), but significant decreases in LF/HF ratios (p < 0.05). Particularly the decrement rate in LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in the combined stimulus group than that in the single stimulus group (p < 0.05). Also, a significantly lower VAS was recorded after combined stimulus. Our findings indicate that the combined stimulus might not only improve flexibility and strength of muscle, but also active parasympathetic nerve activity. The combined stimulus may thus contribute to relieve the stress and to enhance the muscle function.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2009

Objective : This retrospective study of 215 patients with 383 symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), was performed to evaluate the clinical outcomes, and to analyze the various clinical factors affecting these results. Methods : The authors assessed the clinical outcome under the criteria such as the pain improvement, activity, requirement of analgesics, and the patient's satisfaction, and determined the relation to various peri- and intra-operative factors, and postoperative imaging findings. Results : The outcome was determined as 84.2% in relief of pain, 72.0% in change in activity, 65.7% in analgesics use, and 84.7% of satisfaction rate. More severe focal back pain, high uptake bone scan, and the lower mean T-score were related to the better pain relief following PVP. The longer the duration between fracture and PVP, the less severe focal back pain, low uptake bone scan, and leakage of PMMA into the paravertebral space were related to the less improvement in activity. Female and low uptake bone scan showed a correlation with more analgesic use. The longer the duration between fracture and PVP, low uptake bone scan, and the higher the mean T-score were correlated with the less the patients satisfaction. Conclusion : Our study suggests that PVP may be more effective in the acute phase of VCFs, more severe focal pain, and far advanced osteoporosis on BMD. Leakage of PMMA into the paravertebral spcae also could be affecting the surgical results.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.48-70
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of music therapy on acute, subacute and chronic pain and depression of musculoskeletal trauma patients. The study was designed using nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design within the framework of an adaptation model. The subjects were composed of forty patients, and twenty of them were assigned to the experimental group and twenty to the control group within the unit of patients. Data were summarized as follows : 1. There were significant changes of pain scores in an experimental and a control group measured before and after the treatment. 2. There were significant changes of pulse rates, respiration rates and systolic blood pressure, but were no significant changes of diastolic blood pressure in an experimental and a control group measured before and after the treatment. 3. There were no significant changes of the amount of ${\beta}$-endorphin in an experimental and a control group measured before and after the treatment. 4. There were no significant changes of depression scores in an experimental and a control group measured before and after the treatment. As a result, music therapy was a useful nursing intervention for relief of acute, subacute and chronic pain. Two suggestions could be made on the ground of the results of this study. 1. On the basis of endogenous pain control theory, it's necessary to research the changes of the amount of ${\beta}$-endorphin as the effect of the music therapy on patients having severe pain. 2. It's necessary to research the changes of the amount of ${\beta}$-endorphin according to the lapse of time after the music therapy for pain relief.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2012

Objectives : According to previous reports, heating-conduction acupuncture treatment is very effective for sprain and strain of ligament. But there was no report about pain aggravation by heating-conduction acupuncture and relief from bee venom injection. In this article, we report two cases of pain aggravation by heating-conduction acupuncture treatment and relief from bee venom injection. Methods : We used heating-conduction acupuncture treatment on possible sprain of sacroiliac ligament diagnosed by physical examination. Outcomes were measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Range of Motion(ROM) and Belt test, Goldthwait test. Results : The patient has shown an aggravation on pain and ROM. And after we use subcutaneous bee venom injection, pain has relieved and ROM improved. Belt test, Goldthwait test also changed from positive to negative. Conclusions : In this report, we assured the effect of Bee venom injection. Further well-designed, controlled studies and more cases are needed to differentiate the indication of heating-conduction acupuncture and bee venom injection.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.814-820
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• 2020

Objective : Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe neuropathic condition that affects several elderly patients. It is characterized by uncontrolled pain that significantly impacts the quality of life of patients. Therefore, the condition should be treated as an emergency. In the majority of patients, pain can be controlled with medication; however, other treatment modalities are being explored in those who become refractory to drug treatment. The use of the trigeminal nerve block with a local anesthetic serves as an excellent adjunct to drug treatment. This technique rapidly relieves the patient of pain while medications are being titrated to effective levels. We report the efficacy and safety of percutaneous trigeminal nerve block in elderly patients with TN at our outpatient clinic. Methods : Twenty-one patients older than 65 years with TN received percutaneous nerve block at our outpatient clinic. We used bupivacaine (1 mL/injection site) to block the supraorbital, infraorbital, superior alveolar, mental, and inferior alveolar nerves according to pain sites of patients. Results : All patients reported relief from pain, which decreased by approximately 78% after 2 weeks of nerve block. The effect lasted for more than 4 weeks in 12 patients and for 6 weeks in two patients. There were no complications. Conclusion : Percutaneous nerve block procedure performed at our outpatient clinic provided immediate relief from pain to elderly patients with TN. The procedure is simple, has no serious side effects, and is easy to apply.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.107-116
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the most effective stimulating electrode in Microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation (MENS) for pain relief, and to apply to the treatment of Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Methods We included 45 participants who met the inclusion criteria. DOMS of both Triceps Surae Muscles were experimentally induced through eccentric contractions. 24-hours after induction of DOMS, who scored more than 40 mm in visual analogue scale (VAS) were randomly assigned into three groups (n=44). In 15 of them, needle electrodes were inserted into BL57, BL56. In 15 of them, surface electrodes were applied on the same points and the others were treated with manual acupuncture. The effects of pain relief were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), mechanical pain threshold (MPT), surface electromyography (SEMG). Results In VAS, group comparison had no significant difference after all treatments had done. The difference in VAS between the time before the treatment was started (Day 2) and after all treatments were completed was greater in Acupuncture group than that of needle-electrode group. In MPT, there was no significant difference among groups. Electrical contraction decreased significantly at 2nd before-after treatment comparison in needle-electrode MENS group. But fatigue scores were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions The results suggest that the types of electrodes has no significant effect on microcurrent therapy in DOMS.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.113-117
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• 2009

Purpose: Although Hydrofluoric acid(HF) is not a strong acid when compared to other hydrogen halides, it is a feared corrosive and is particularly dangerous at higher concentrations. HF burns are characterized by symptoms, often delayed and localized with diluted HF solutions, to include erythema, edema and severe pain. Pain, a well known symptom following exposure to calcium binding. And, EMLA$^{(R)}$ cream is a topical formulation based upon the eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine and is used in clinical settings to provide pain relief undergoing superficial surgical procedures. The aim of this study is to evaluate effects of EMLA$^{(R)}$ cream, pain - control dressing on the treatment for HF injury wound. Methods: From June 2007 to June 2008, this study was carried out with 10 patients who had HF partial thickness burns. We were applied topically EMLA$^{(R)}$ cream to injured wound with vaseline gauze and 10% calcium gluconate wet gauze dressings. As a principle, in the emergency treatment, partial or complete removal of the bullae along with copious washing with normal saline was done, depending on the degree of HF invasion of the distal digital extremities. The effect of dressing was investigated by visual analogue pain scale. Results: We therefore reviewed 10 cases of HF - induced pain and pain relief treatment principle. The 10 cases who came to the hospital nearly immediately after the injury healed completely without sequelae and EMLA$^{(R)}$ related complications. Conclusion: Proper initial treatment of HF burns are important, if not promptly recognized and properly treated, for produce serious injury. Topical EMLA$^{(R)}$ cream remain a powerful, new advancement for minimizing HF - related pain during dressing procedures. When used appropriately, topical EMLA$^{(R)}$ cream can provide a safe and effective alternative to other forms of HF - pain control treatment.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2014

The purpose of the study is to develop self-management system that people can enhance physical and psychological health through repeating by themselves to relieve work-related stress. The regular respiration can help homeostasis of heart to maintain. Also the effect can be stabilized from irregular heart rhythm by work-related stress. People have optimal respiration cycle to stabilize heart rhythm and repeat training using their RSP(respiration) time including expiration and inhalation. This system is not only offering optimal respiration training service but also finding optimal respiration cycle. The adults who have stress from work participated in verification experiment. This study expects to help those people who are workers related to call center jobs in emotional labor can relieve their stress. It can also help to enhance their own health and increase their work efficiency.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 2006

Objectives : To test the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture applied to PC6 and ST36 for the relief of fullness of epigastrium or epigastric pain. Subjects and Methods : We enrolled fifty patients in a case series study The patients were mainly female (94 %) with an average age of 55 years $({\pm}15.0)$; the average age of the male patients was 51 years $({\pm}20.0)$. Twenty four percent of patients were in acute phase which epigastric pain had lasted below 1 month. Twenty eight percent of patients were in chronic phase which the pain had lasted over 6 month. The rest were in subacute phase. Acupuncture needles were inserted into PC6 and ST36 bilaterally. The acupuncture treatments were performed 2 times a week for 4 weeks. One treat session was lasted for 30 min. At each visit, overall symptomatic improvement, frequency and intensity of symptoms were checked on a 4 scaled questionnaire. Results : After acupuncture treatment, a progressive improvement of pain intensity was reported in 46 of the 50 patients, including 23 of excellent and 23 of good. The progress of symptom was more superior in subacute phase to acute or chronic phase. The symptom of 22 of 24 patients in subacute phase was improved. No patient experienced minor side-effects during acupuncture treatment. Conclusion : These preliminary data suggest the acupuncture treatment provides good pain relief for most patients presenting with epigastric pain. Randomized trials with appropriate control groups are needed to validate the effectiveness of this therapy in the treatment of epigastric pain.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture(EA) and radio-frequency warm needling(RFWN) stimulation in acupoint combination on ankle sprained pain in rats. Methods : The lateral ligaments of the Sprague-Dawley rats ankle were injured surgically resulting in sprain, of which was divided into EA, RFWN treatment groups and control group without treatment. The level of pain was measured through foot weight bearing force ratio followed by calculating pain relief. To stimulate proximal or distal area in ankle sprain, combination of proximal acupoints(GB34-GB39) and distal acupoints(GB39-GB42) from sprain area were applied, respectively, to either EA or RFWN stimulation. In addition, naltrexone or phentolamine was injected intraperitoneally before the stimulation to observe the pathway of analgesic effects. Results : In the proximal combination of GB34-GB39, EA and RFWN significantly increased pain relief compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, in distal combination with GB39-GB42, both EA and RFWN stimulation did not relieve pain due to ankle sprains. In the combination of GB34-GB39, the analgesia of EA was inhibited by blockade of the ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor receptor. The analgesia of RFWN was inhibited by blockade of the ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor receptor as well as ${\mu}$-opioid receptor. Conclusions : We observed that the proximal combination was effective in relieving pain when the treatment by acupoint combination was applied to the ankle sprain pain. Also, it was confirmed that this analgesia was also related to the pathways of ${\mu}$-opioid receptors and/or ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors.