• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of study was to investigate the effects of combination patterns exercise of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) on unstable surfaces on pain, functional disability, and fear avoidance belief in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: Twenty four patients were assigned to either the experimental group (n=12) or the control group (n=12). Patients in the experimental group performed combination patterns exercise of PNF on unstable surfaces. Patients in the control group performed combination patterns exercise of PNF on stable surfaces. Both exercises were performed for five days per week, for a period of six weeks. Pain was measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Functional disability was measured using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Fear avoidance belief was measured using the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ). A paired t-test was used for determination of differences before and after treatment, and an independent t-test was used for determination of differences between treatment groups. Results: In within group comparison, the experimental group showed statistically significant difference for all variables (p<0.05). In comparison between two groups, the experimental group showed relatively greater significant difference for all variables (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on such results, it can be said that combination patterns exercise of PNF on unstable surfaces has an effect on pain, functional disability, and fear avoidance belief in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.91-104
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• 2018

Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Acupotomy on the pain reduction and functional improvement of patients with Acute low back pain. Methods We studied 60 patients with Acute low back pain with Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) 5 or higher in admission and had admitted to Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation of Daejeon University from March 1, 2017 to October 31, 2017. 30 patients had received Acupotomy combined Korean Medicine treatment(such as acupuncture, moxabustion, herbal medicine, etc) and the other 30 had received Korean Medicine treatment only. The analysis was conducted as a retrospective study which analyzes the patient's medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 24 program. We used NRS to evaluate pain reduction, used Range of Motion (ROM) and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) to evaluate function improvement, and used EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) and EuroQoL-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) to assess quality of life. Finally, a five-point Likert scale was used to assess treatment satisfaction. Results The analysis revealed that patients who were treated with Acupotomy showed statistically significant NRS reduction, improvement of ROM and RMDQ, improvement of EQ-5D and EQ-VAS and satisfaction compared to those who just recevied Korean Medicine treatment. Conclusions In conclusion, we found that the Acupotomy showed a positive effect on pain resolving, functional rehabilitation and quality of life in patients with Acute low back pain.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.239-246
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• 2018

Objective : This case study reports the therapeutic effect of Korean Medicine (KM) treatments including CS(care special pain) and BV(bee venom) pharmacopuncture on herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) of lumbar spine(L-spine). Methods : Two patients diagnosed with HIVD of L-spine were treated with CS and BV pharmacopuncture on GV3 and EX-B2, acupuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine. The Numeric Rating Scale(NRS), the Oswestry low back pain Disablility Index(ODI) and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire(RMDQ) scores were evaluated before and after treatment for comparison. Results : Low back pain(LBP) and radiating pain was improved with a decrease in patients' NRS, ODI and RMDQ scores. Conclusion : These results suggest that KM treatments including combined CS and BV pharmacopuncture could be an effective treatment on patients with HIVD of L-Spine.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.252-264
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• 2023

Background: The primary aim of this study is to statistically analyze and compare the difference in treatment outcomes based on the frequency and duration of acupotomy treatment for lumbar disk herniation. Methods: The evaluation of efficacy and safety involved using visual analog scale (VAS), numeric rating scale (NRS), Roland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), EuroQol 5-dimention (EQ-5D), and similar parameters. This was achieved through the establishment of a comparable cohort using propensity score matching. Group A comprised 46 patients who underwent 4 sessions of acupotomy treatment for 2 weeks, while Group B consisted of 15 patients who received 6 acupotomy sessions for 3 weeks. Results: For Group A, the average amount of change in VAS values at weeks 4 and 6 was significantly decreased. However, the average amount of change in RMDQ values was not significant. Notably, the average amount of change of EQ-5D values at week 6 increased significantly. As for Group B, the average amount of change of NRS values in weeks 2 and 3 was significantly decreased. Conversely, the average amount of change in RMDQ and EQ-5D values was not significant. In comparing the 2 groups at the final follow-up, the average amount of change in all evaluation values was not significant. Further, no significant interaction effect was observed in the changes over time in all evaluation values between the 2 groups. Conclusion: This study establishes that there was no statistically significant difference in pain reduction, functional impairment, and quality of life improvement between 2 group.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.233-243
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of lumbar stabilization exercise using the PNF techniques on the lumbar deep muscles thickness and functional activity in chronic low back pain patient. Group I(n=10): general physical therapy group; Group II(n=10): general lumbar stabilization exercise group; Group III(n=10): lumbar stabilization exercise using PNF techniques(stabilizing reversal, rhythmic stabilization, combination of isotonic) group. Change of pain was measured with visual analog scale(VAS). To observe muscle thickness changes, we measured transverse abdominis(TrA), external oblique(EO), multifidus with real time ultrasound scanning. The functional activity were measured with Oswestry Disability Questionnaire(ODQ) and Roland & Morris Disability Questionnaire(RMDQ). In VAS test, group III had more significantly decreased than before exercise. In muscle thickness test, group III had more significantly increased than before exercise in right/left TrA, EO, multifidus. In ODQ & RMDQ test, group III had more significantly decreased than before exercise. This study show that the PNF techniques is effective in improving the lumbar stability and functional activity in chronic low back pain patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.155-161
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to research and report the effect of Bee Venom pharmacopuncture therapy at facet joint for the two patients who was diagnosed as herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD) of lumbar spine. Two patients were hospitalized and treated with Complex Korean Medical treatment such as acupuncture, herbal medicine and Essential bee venom (EBV) pharmacopuncture in Dongsuwon hospital of oriental medicine. We measured their pain and function of daily life by numerical rating scale (NRS), straight leg rasing test (SLRT), Roland-morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ). As the result, we found the improvement of gait disturbance, functional disorder, and pain. This study suggested that Bee Venom pharmacopuncture therapy at facet joint is considered to conservative treatment for HIVD of lumbar spine. But further clinical studies are needed to clarify the effect of Bee Venom pharmacopuncture therapy at facet joint for the two patients with HIVD of lumbar spine.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.139-151
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• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of wall-squat with short-foot exercise on pain, dysfunction, and pelvic alignment in chronic low back pain patients. METHODS: Thirty outpatients diagnosed with chronic low back pain and pronated foot were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided randomly into a wall-squat with short-foot exercise group (WS; n = 15) and a normal wall-squat exercise group (NW; n = 15). These groups performed their respective exercises 15 times, for three sets, three times a week over six weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure the subjects' pain, and the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) was used to measure the subjects' dysfunction. A navicular drop test (NDT) was used to measure the subjects' arch height. To assess the patients' pelvic alignment, their lordosis, sacral tilt, lumbar width, sacral width, ilium length, and ilium width were measured by X-ray imaging. RESULTS: Both the WS and NW groups exhibited significant decreases in their VAS and RMDQ scores after exercise (p < .05). The WS group exhibited significant increases in their arch height (p < .05). Significant differences in the VAS, sacral tilt, sacral width, and ilium length were observed between the WS and NW groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that wall-squat exercise is effective in decreasing the level of pain and dysfunction in chronic low back pain patients. In addition, the wall-squat with short-foot exercise is considered more effective in improving the pelvic alignment than without short-foot exercise. This can be an effective method for the non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatment of chronic low back pain

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2014

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on the alleviation of lumbar myalgia. This is a randomized, real-sham, double blind pilot study. 38 patients were divided into the PEMF group and the Sham group, each of which was composed of 19 patients (1 patient dropped out in the Sham group) of randomized allocation. The PEMF group was treated by using the PEMF device and the Sham group by using a sham device on the lumbar muscle and acupuncture points, three times a week for a total of two weeks. Evaluations of Visual Analogue Scale for bothersomeness (VASB), Visual Analogue Scale for pain intensity (VASP), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Instrument (SF-36), EuroQol-5Dimension (EQ-5D), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), etc. before and 1 week after treatment were carried out. The primary outcome measure was the VASB, measured 1 week after the end of the pulsed electromagnetic therapy. VASB scores for the PEMF group changed by $-2.06{\pm}2.12$ from the baseline, and that for the Sham group changed by $-0.52{\pm}0.82$ (p < 0.05). VASP scores for the PEMF group were reduced by $-2.10{\pm}2.12$ from the base line, and that for the Sham group was reduced by $-0.53{\pm}1.50$ (p < 0.05). PEMF group showed significant improvements in all VASB, VASP, ODI, SF-36, EQ-5D, BDI and RMDQ scores, while the Sham group showed significant improvements in all scores, except the VASP score. However, the VASB, VASP and RMDQ scores of the PEMF group were much lower than those of the Sham group. The two groups showed no significant difference in ODI, SF-36, EQ-5D and BDI. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of PEMF treatment for alleviating lumbar myalgia.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.227-239
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was performed to report the case of oriental medical treatment for the left lower limb monoplegia after herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) operation at lumbar(L)-spine. Methods: A 38-year-old man who underwent lumbar HIVD operation at a hospital admitted with motor weakness of left lower limb, a little decreased left leg radiation pain and low back pain. We treated him by acupuncture, herbal medicine, bee venom injection moxibustion, cupping treatment physical therapy and measured with visual analogue scale(VAS), Oswestry disability index(ODI), Roland-Morris disability questionnaire(RMDO) and manual muscle test(MMT) from 8th February to 4th May 2011. Results: After treatment most symptoms decreased, VAS score changed from 10 to 3, ODI changed 71% to 37% RMDQ changed 13 to 8 and MMT changed from 3 to 5. Conclusions: Our study suggested that oriental medical treatments are significantly applicable to the monoplegia and pain after lumbar HIVD operation. And further studies ire required to identify underlying mechanism of the treatment.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.157-166
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• 2019

Purpose: This study compares and examines the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on patients with chronic low back pain through systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Methods: Domestic literature was searched with combinations of keywords including "proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation," "PNF," "back pain," and "low back pain" using the Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), and Korean Medical Database (KMbase). Six studies (n=148) were finally included in the analysis through a selection and exclusion process. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Results: According to the meta-analysis results, the low back pains of the PNF group and the contrast group showed a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 2.21 (95% CI: -3.35, -1.07, p=0.01, $I^2=83%$) after intervention. Thus, the PNF group showed a statistically significant decrease in low back pain compared with the control group. In addition, the SMDs of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), lung function, and the Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) were -1.34 (95% CI: -1.88, -0.79, p<0.01, $I^2=35%$), 1.14 (95% CI: 0.49, 1.79, p=0.01, $I^2=0%$), and -1.59 (95% CI: -2.56, -0.62, p=0.01, $I^2=46%$), respectively. Thus, the PNF group showed statistically significant differences from the control group. Conclusion: At present, there is some limit to obtaining definite results about effect sizes because there are relatively few randomized controlled experiments that analyze the effects of PNF exercise in patients with chronic low back pain. Therefore, continuous efforts should be made to conduct randomized clinical trials and long-term efficacy studies in the future.