• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.221-227
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• 2015

In this study, Multi-Array Electrodes (MAE) and Programmable Multi-channel Electrical Stimulator (PMES) were implemented for firing Trigger Points (TPs) of the patient with Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS). MAE has 25 Ag/AgCl electrodes arranged in the form of array ($5{\times}5$) fabricated with flexible pad, which are applicable to be easy-attached to curved specific region of the human body. PMES consisted of 25 channels. Each channel was to generate various electric stimulus patterns (ESPs) by changing the mono-phasic or bi-phasic of ESP, On/Off duration of ESP, the interval between ESP, and amplitude of ESP. PMES hardware was composed of Host PC, Stimulation Pattern Editing Program (SPEP), and Multi-channel Electrical Stimulator (MES). Experiments were performed using MAE and PMES as the following. First experiment was performed to evaluate the function for each channel of Sub- Micro Controller Unit (SMCU) in MES. Second experiment was conducted on whether ESP applied from each channel of SMCU in PMES was focused to the electrode set to the ground, after applying ESP being output from each channel of SMCU in PMES to MAE.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.71-90
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• 2003

The shoulder is the most flexible joint in human body, so many people suffer from the shoulder pain. In order to improve medical care about shoulder muscle disease, Myofascial Pain Syndrome(M.P.S) is compared with the oriental medical theory. The findings of this study are as follows; 1. Myofascial Pain Syndrome(M.P.S) is the sensory, motor, and autonomic symptoms caused by myofascial trigger points. For the objectivity of the oriental medical theory, practical application is necessary. 2. The meridian and meridian-muscle of the shoulder is su-sam-yang(手三陽), su-sam-um(手三陰). Meridian-muscle theory is similar to anatomical muscle and myofascia. 3. There is similarity in the trigger point and Ashi(阿是)-point, taut band and palpable tender-point(硬結), referred pain and Hangki(行氣). In this study, myofacial pain syndrome is similar to the oriental medical theory. If myofacial pain syndrome is applicated in treatment, the cure of shoulder pain and objectivity of the oriental medical theory is improved.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.109-119
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• 1996

Although the physical therapy of both East and West has been based on an identical philosophy, they have had their own therapy with difference in its form and pattern. In general, cupping is used to diagnose and treat viscera by means of acupuncture point, and myofascial release is also used for both diagnosis and orthopedic treatment on the basis of trigger point and myofascial however, when they have a lot of identical facts such as using both mental and physical aspects of human beings for treatment, keeping nervous action balanced, and recovering depressed nervous functions and relieving the pain. In addition. their identical fact includes that they tend to treat patients by using symptoms and reaction shown in their skin, and that both East and West try to consider myofascia as an integrated totality and as a unified body of organic functions with correlations. Among the principles of myofascial release, recently, it has been very identical that stimulus given to the skin results in synapse to sympathetic nerve through dosal horn cell has an effect on viscera, and that cupping is sued for diagnosis and treatment of viscera. It is required, therefore, to continue to carry out studying on this field.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.53-61
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• 2017

Myogenous temporomandibular disorder is a collective term for pathologic conditions of the masticatory muscles, mainly characterized by pain and dysfunction associated with various pathophysiological processes. Among the subtypes of myogenous temporomandibular disorder, myofascial pain is one of the most common muscle disorders, characterized by the presence of trigger points (TrPs). Various modalities, such as ultrasound, manipulative therapy, spray-and-stretch technique, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, injection/dry needling, and low-level laser therapy are used to inactivate TrPs. Needling/injection on the TrPs is one of the most common treatments for myofascial pain. Despite the evidence, there is continued controversy over defining the biological and clinical characteristics of TrPs and the efficacy of injection/dry needling. This review discusses the current concept of injection/needling to relieve TrPs.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.1 s.22
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• pp.163-168
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• 2007

Objectives : This study is to report the effect of Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture on two patients suffering from the pain of popliteal part. Methods : We treated the patients with the pain of popliteal part by acupuncture according to meridian(Taeyang and Soyang-Meridian), and we injected 0.1${\sim}$0.2cc of Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture to his pain site. And then we evaluated their pain by VAS(Visual Analog Scale). Results : 1. A combined treatment-Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture and Acupucture- had a very excellent effect on relieving pain of popliteal part originated from trigger point and referred pain of Popliteus or Biceps Femoris. 2. It appears that Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture is very effective against trigger point of muscle and pain site fixed.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 1996

Even in the absence of any specific abnormal pathologic findings of the gastrointestinal tract, many patients still suffer from : fullness, anorexia and postprandial abdominal pain. As these symptoms are similar to visceral origin pain, many physicians focus on the discovery of pathologic abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract. At our Yoido Pain Clinic, after diagnosing myofascial pain syndrome, we treated 64 patients by trigger point injection and physical therapy on abnormal abdominal muscle, from June 1993 to April 1995. Most patients' conditions improved after these treatments.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.105-108
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• 1993

A myofascial syndrome due to continuous muscle contraction with the trigger point at the upper lateral edge of the nuchal muscles where they attach to the occipital bone is frequently seen in daily pain clinic practice. The Tienchu syndrome is a myofascial condition of the posterior neck region with a trigger point at the Tienchu acupoint(B10). When advanced, occipital neuralgia and muscle contraction headache follow. Therefore, a Tienchu block and/or occipital nerve block with local anesthetic combined with a small dose of steroid is a most effective therapeutic method for many patients who complain of posterior headache or posterior neck pain.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.49-61
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• 2005

Summary of Background Data: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common painful muscle disorder caused by trigger points occurring in myofascial. MPS is a major cause of chronical pain and is the subject of further clinical examination. Purpose: To uncover effective intramuscular stimulation therapy (IMS), the patients' actively participation stretching exercise and stabilizing around shoulder girdle where trigger point provoking myofascial pain syndrome in usually occurred. Methods: 45 myofascial pain syndrome patients were randomly chosen and divided into 3 groups. The first group (G1) received only IMS therapy, The second group (G2) had both IMS and active stretching exercises administered and the final group (G3) was given IMS therapy and stabilizing exercises. Therapy intervention was given for 3 weeks, 3 times a week and then only stretching exercise for the second group and stabilizing exercise for the third group was given for another 3 weeks. The visual analogue scale was dine before the experiment, 3 weeks after the experiment and 6weeks after the experiment to measure subjective degrees of pain and pressure pain threshold to measure sensitivity improvement of trigger point and functional ability questionnaire to measure daily life performance. Results: There were no significant changes after 3 weeks but after 6 weeks, between GI and G2 and between G1 and G3 showed significant change of pain, pressure pain threshold and daily life performance. There were significant improvement of the measurement of degrees of pain, pressure pain threshold and improvement of daily life performance at different times for G1 showed change 3 weeks after the experiment, but there were no changes 6 weeks after the experiment. There were significant improvement of the measurement at different times for G2 and G3 showed change 3 weeks after the experiment and 6 weeks after the experiment. Conclusions: IMS therapy proved to be effective in inactivation of trigger points of the myofascial pain syndrome patients and stretching and stabilizing exercises beside it keep remedial value longer by improvement of pain and dysfunction that occurred by the trigger point.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.379-385
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to determine the immediate effects of pulsed magnetic field (PMF) in subjects with upper trapezius (UT) trigger point (TrP). Methods: Fifteen subjects with UT TrP were recruited for the study's PMF group (pain threshold=$2.29kg/cm^2$), and 15 age-, weight-, and gender-matched subjects with UT TrP were recruited for control group (pain threshold=$2.25kg/cm^2$). Pressure algometer was used to measure pressure pain threshold on UT TrP and, cervical range of motion (ROM) inclinometer was used to measure cervical ROM. Surface electromyography was used to record UT, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior muscle activity and relative ratio during scapular plane abduction between pre- and post-treatment. Results: The PMF effectively improved pain threshold and concurrently increased ROM (rotation to the painful side, lateral flexion to the nonpainful side). In addition, the PMF may effectively deactivate UT activity during abduction and the muscle activity ratio between UT and serratus anterior. Conclusion: These findings provided empirical evidence that PMF can be an effective treatment method to reduce pain threshold, to increase cervical ROM, and deactivate UT activity in individuals with TrP.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.141-144
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• 2021

There are some cases of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) with chronic upper back pain that does not respond to dry needling or trigger point injection, well-known treatments for MPS. A 67-year-old female developed a stabbing upper back pain with trigger point at left T7~8 levels 10 years ago. She complained of the pain with Numeral Rating Scale (NRS) 8 points. Myofascial release technique and trigger point injection had no effect. Under ultrasound guidance 20 ml of 1% lidocaine was injected into thoracic paravertebral space. Immediately, the pain was reduced to NRS 4 points. One week later, the second block was performed in the same way as the first, and the pain was reduced to NRS 2 points. The stabbing pain disappeared, and oral opioids were discontinued. Ultrasound guided thoracic paravertebral space block is an effective and safe treatment for refractory MPS with chronic upper back pain.