• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.264-271
• /
• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to redefine the location of acupoints in the lower abdomen by taking actual thoracic and abdominal measurements. Methods: Measurements of the length and height of the thorax, and both the upper and lower abdominal area were compared to standard values defined by the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region (WHO/WPRO), and medical text books such as Miraculous Pivot, and A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. These measurements were used to redefine the standard of 1 cun, and the cun value of the lower abdomen. Results: Of the 60 studies screened, all studies used the cun measurement system. Considerable variation in the localization of acupoints in the lower abdominal area were detected. The average measurement of a typical male lower abdomen was within 6.33 cun to 6.34 cun. From this data, 6.5 cun appears to be more accurate than the current standardized length of 5 cun. The standardized index values of the width of the 4 fingers, and the distance from the lateral prominence from the greater trochanter to the popliteal crease (Fm), appeared to apply to only males, as defined by the WHO/WPRO. Conclusion: Further studies on standardizing the index measurements for the lower abdominal area are necessary. For males, the more accurate standardized length of the lower abdomen was 6.5 cun, whereas for females, the measurement would typically be longer than 6.5 cun.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.20-31
• /
• 2021

The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for patients with rotator cuff diseases. There were 12 electronic databases and 3 trial registries searched up to November 30th, 2019. All randomized trials were eligible, regardless of language, date of publication, or settings. The primary outcomes were pain, shoulder function, and proportion of improved participants assessed within 12 weeks of randomization of the trial. The Cochrane risk of bias for the studies was assessed. Effects sizes were presented as a risk ratio, mean difference, or standardized mean difference with a 95% confidence intervals. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was adopted to rate certainty of evidence. Of the 3,686 records screened, 28 randomized trials (2,216 participants) were included in this review. The types of acupuncture included manual acupuncture, dry needling, electroacupuncture, acupotomy, warm needle acupuncture, and fire needle acupuncture. All of the studies had an unclear or high risk of bias related to more than 1 domain. Significant benefits of acupuncture in terms of pain and shoulder function were observed in all comparisons, however, the proportion of improved participants was not described in 2 comparisons. There was substantial heterogeneity among meta-analyzed trials. No serious harm was observed. For primary outcomes, the overall certainty of evidence was very low. There was very low certainty of evidence for the benefits of acupuncture for patients with rotator cuff diseases. The safety of acupuncture remains unclear due to the incompleteness of reporting. Future well-designed randomized trials with transparent reporting are required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.71-93
• /
• 2006

Objectives : This study is performed for proposing reasonable clinical study protocol at International standard clinical study of osteoarthritis of Knee Joint. Methods : We gave the eighteen oriental medicine doctors the questionnaire and the video about female patient who diagnosed Knee joint of osteoarthritis above 60 years old and they tested same patients using differentiation of symptoms and signs. Then they retested it after We educated them with diagnosis education text. Conclusion : The improvement of diagnosis agreement can be possible by developing standardized the same patients using differentiation of symptoms and by reeducation about it.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2006

Introduction : Even though Acupuncture has been know for its effect for a long time, recently it is required to verifiy its effect. To solve this, clinical trial, based on EBM, has been the way to explain acupuncture's treatment effect. Methods: Last year we had a clinical trial based on acupuncture. From this experience we came to a conclusion mentioned below. Results : 1. To find out acupuncture's effect more certainly, it is needed that Korean medical method or treatment should be connected to diagnosis. 2. We had found out that sham and minimal acupuncture are the most appropriate way in single blinding. 3. It is required for the acupuncturist to practice the right real acupuncture point and sham's point in clinical trial. 4. The most important thing to maintain the subjects from dropping out is to always be concerned to the subjects and management them. Conclusion : The best way to advance clinical trial on acupuncture is to use single blinding system with sham acupuncture together in controlled groups and most of all also needs a standardized acupuncture point and depth.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2013

Objectives : This study was aimed to find the motivation and satisfaction of subjects who participated in acupuncture and moxibustion clinical trials and to suggest ways to improve clinical trial management. Methods : We conducted a survey and collected the data of 233 subjects of acupuncture and moxibustion clinical trials from 6 university hospitals. Results : For all 233 subjects, the mean of the total satisfaction score was 4.07 (perfect score 5.0), and the score was particularly high in aspects of the investigator and clinical research coordinator, but low in the site and sponsor aspects. There were no differences in the satisfaction degree with general characteristics. The satisfaction degree of the acupuncture and moxibustion clinical trials was strong positive correlated with participation benefits(r=0.595) and easy contact with the research team (r=0.500). Conclusions : Most subjects showed positive perception and interest in the clinical trials. Future studies should investigate how personal factors influence the satisfaction of subjects, should identify a specific classification criterion, and create a standardized protocol for the clinical trials.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.114-121
• /
• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment on the inflammatory lesions and body image disturbances in patients with vulgaris acnes. Methods : Fifteen inflammatory acne patients were enrolled and treated with facial acupuncture during 4 treatment sessions. We evaluated the number of papules and nodules using the Korean Acne Grading System (KAGS). We also evaluated patients' general subjective satisfaction and objective changes of inflammatory acnes symptoms using DermaVision-pro. Moreover, we observed the skin quality-of-life scale with skindex-29 and body image disturbance questionnaire (BIDQ) as secondary outcome. Adverse events were recorded as well at every visit. Results : After 4 treatment sessions, there were significant reductions in the number of papules and nodules of the patients. We found that subjective satisfactions of patients were enhanced as well as the objective inflammatory symptoms. We also found significant improvements in the quality of life and BIDQ. No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported. Conclusions : This study demonstrated that standardized facial acupuncture were effective and safe in the treatment of facial inflammatory acnes.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.137-148
• /
• 2002

Objective : The low back pain was the main reason of receiving acupuncture treatment. Despite its widespread prevalence, objective data assessing the pain and the results of various forms of treatment were difficult to find in korea. In order to compare the value of different types of treatment, it was necessary to use standard and meaningful forms of assessment. Methods : Pain and functional disability scales for low back pain were reviewed for contents, measurement properties and current methodological issues. Results and Conclusions : 1. The SF-36 Bodily Pain Scale and the Graded Chronic Pain Scale were commonly used for the standard pain scale. 2. The Oswestry Disability Questionnaire and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire were commonly used for the standard function scale. 3. When evaluated, there was no definite answer to the results of the treatment. In the literature, the responsiveness of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire ranged from 2 to 8 points but clinically, the ranges should be minimally changed from 2 to 3 points. 4. In the future, scale for low back pain should be standardized in multiple dimension so that the computerized adaptive testing by Item Response Theory could be widely used.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.101-112
• /
• 2008

Generally, we regard the concept of Guchim(九鍼) in "Naegyeong(內經)" as the a generic term of acupuncture means of nine kinds of forms and usages. However, it also contains the meaning of methods and transcriptures of acupuncture. The diversity of Guchim reflects that it has a high level diagnosis and treatment based on overall analysis of symptoms and signs. And among the treatments, reinforcing and reducing methods are prominent. The treatments of reinforcing and reducing methods, usually use Hochim(毫鍼), the filiform needle. The focus of Guchim, in reinforcing and reducing of Gi(氣), is reinforcing and reducing by way of drainage of Gi. And it mainly deals with diseases of Gi. From the research of the philosophic background of the number Nine in Chinese philosophy, number nine symbolizes the posterior and space, as number one symbolizes apriority and time. In this circumstances, Guchim became the supreme method of acupuncture. The concept of Gwanchim(官鍼), standardized needle in "Naegyeong" also expresses the Guchim as theory and skill in standardized traditional medicine. The period of materialization of Guchim and Gwanchim lies in from the era of Jeonguk[戰國時代, the age of civil wars] to Han dyansty[漢代], when the "Naegyeong" made a synthesis of the medicine in those days, as the society unified politically and ideologically. In this process, Guchim was sublimated in method of acupuncture which contained absolute authority.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.149-158
• /
• 2018

Objectives : In this study, we quantitatively evaluated the needle forces using needle insertion-measurement system and compared the needle sensation of each acupuncture practical model. Methods : After inserting acupuncture with a sensor to six models, a lifting-thrusting motion was implemented using the needle insertion-measurement system. The needle force was measured repeatedly, and the measurement was analyzed based on the modified Karnopp friction model for a comparison of friction coefficients. After the insertion, practitioners did lifting-thrusting manipulations. They quantified the similarity of needle sensation with VAS (Visual Analogue Scale). Results : When friction force and coefficients of friction in five different models were compared with a porcine shank model, all five models were significantly different from a porcine shank model, cotton and apple showing the closest frictional values to that of a porcine shank model. In the Cp and Cn values of cotton and in the Cp values of IM injection pad, there was no statistically significant difference. The similarity of the needle sensation between the porcine shank and five models was the highest in the apple, and overlapping papers was the lowest. Conclusions : This study quantitatively compared the physical forces in the practical model when implementing lifting-thrusting manipulations, using a needle insertion-measurement system. We suggest that a reproducible exercise model that reflects the characteristics of various human tissues, such as viscoelasticity or strength, needs to be further developed. This will contribute to establishing standardized acupuncture practice training.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.225-239
• /
• 2009

Objectives : To establish a well organized and systematic oriental medicine classification of headache, the western and oriental medicine diagnosis and treatment systems of headache were reviewed. Methods : The history and development process of western medicine classification of headache were studied. A literature review of oriental medicine classification of headache was done. The characters of each classification systems were assessed. Results : In western medicine, many international societies concerning headache have been established. Through these societies, a classification of headache which can be used by both researchers and practitioners has been suggested. And the suggested classification system is highly recommended to be used in studies in order to increase utilization. As data is accumulated, new versions of the classification system were updated. But in the case of oriental medicine, various classification systems of headache are presented in numerous literatures. But the effort to unify and systemize the oriental medicine headache classification has been in lack. Conclusions : Establishment and utilization of a standardized oriental medicine headache classification system, based on various classifications and detailed descriptions is needed.