• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.269-279
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• 2008

Purpose: The study was to examine the effect of lumbar stabilization exercise on back pain, physical fitness, sleep, and depression in middle-aged women who have chronic back pain. Methods: With one group pre-post test design, 18 subjects who have had more than 6 months of back pain were recruited by convenience sampling in D metropolitan area. Lumbar stabilization exercise was based on Tai Chi for back pain program developed by Lam(2003). This program was mainly focusing on strengthening lumbar stabilizing muscle for one hour per session, twice a week for 20 weeks. Degree of back pain, back pain disability, sleep, and depression were measured at three time points(pretest, 12 weeks, and 20 weeks) by a structured study questionnaire. Physical fitness variables including waist flexibility, mobility, and back muscle strength were measured three times at health promotion center located in the university hospital. Data were analyzed by frequency, descriptive statistics, and repeated measures of ANOVA. Results: Mean age of subjects was 52 years(SD = 6.4). Most of them(90%) had suffered from back pain more than one year and 67% was taking medicine to relieve their back pain. Results showed that back pain score and disability score were not significantly decreased after the exercise. On physical fitness variables, however, waist flexibility(F = 3.50, p = .04) and mobility(F = 3.31, p = .04) were improved after the exercise. Quality of sleep(F = 4.48, p = .03) was improved gradually and depression scores were also decreased(F = 3.12, p = .05) after the exercise. Conclusion: This lumbar stabilization exercise was not able to reduce chronic back pain, but could improve physical fitness and psycho-social variables for community dwelling women who have chronic back pain. Further study is needed to replicate this exercise with control group to confirm the positive effect.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.17-32
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• 2010

Objectives : To investigate the association between cigarette smoking and clinical outcomes of conservative treatment for lumbar herniated disc. Methods : We reviewed 74 male patients with lumbar herniated disc who were hospitalized at the Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital. 74 patients were divided into 2 groups(smokers, non-smokers) and we measured age, ODI score, SF-36 score, VAS. Results : Between smokers and non-smokers, statically significant differences were found in clinical symptoms on the time of 6 months later, effective scores of treatments, value of ODI and value of VAS on the time of 6 months later. And in these values of measurements, non-smokers were higher than those of smokers. Conclusion : These results suggest that possibility of the association between cigarette smoking and clinical outcomes of conservative treatment for lumbar herniated disc.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2018

To evaluate the applicability of osteoporosis management by statistical analysis of the correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) changes after menopause by dividing the T-score of bone mineral density measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry do. Between January 1, 2016 and July 31, 2017, women who visited the medical center of W Medical Center were enrolled in this study. The postmenopausal period was divided into 5 groups, There were 18 patients within 5 years, 44 patients in 6~10 years, 134 patients in 11~15 years, 109 patients in 16~20 years and 21 patients in 21 years or older. And postmenopausal women. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and femur was measured using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The lowest value among lumbar spine 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the lowest value among the femoral neck, greater trochanter, total femur, and ward Values were measured. The statistical significance was analyzed by using bivariate correlation coefficient method and one - way ANOVA. In 326 patients who underwent BMD, the correlation between bone mineral density and postmenopausal BMD showed a negative correlation (-.159, p<.01) with BMD of femur and BMD of lumbar spine The correlation between the menopausal period and negative (-.208, p<.01) was shown. There was a significant difference (p<.012) between the postmenopausal femur bone density and the mean value of the lumbar spine BMD (p<.000). The relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and postmenopausal women's postmenopausal status can be estimated by estimating the bone mineral density and using it as a basic data for osteoporosis management.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.540-549
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• 2017

Objective : To evaluate the diagnostic value of computed tomography-myelography (CTM) compared to that of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. Methods : The study included 91 patients presenting with radicular leg pain caused by herniated nucleus pulposus or lateral recess stenosis in the lumbar spine. The degree of nerve root compression on MRI and CTM was classified into four grades. The results of each imaging modality as assessed by two different observers were compared. Visual analog scale score for pain and electromyography result were the clinical parameters used to evaluate the relationships between clinical features and nerve root compression grades on both MRI and CTM. These relationships were quantified by calculating the receiver-operating characteristic curves, and the degree of relationship was compared between MRI and CTM. Results : McNemar's test revealed that the two diagnostic modalities did not show diagnostic concurrence (p<0.0001). Electromyography results did not correlate with grades on either MRI or CTM. The visual analog pain scale score results were correlated better with changes of the grades on CTM than those on MRI (p=0.0007). Conclusion : The present study demonstrates that CTM could better define the pathology of degenerative lumbar spine diseases with radiculopathy than MRI. CTM can be considered as a useful confirmative diagnostic tool when the exact cause of radicular pain in a patient with lumbar radiculopathy cannot be identified by using MRI. However, the invasiveness and potential complications of CTM are still considered to be pending questions to settle.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.93-105
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• 2012

Objectives: This study explored the relationships between Bone Mineral Density (BMD), Body Mass Index(BMI), Age, pain duration outcomes of treatment for Low Back Pain(LBP) in 3 groups(normal,osteopenia,osteoporosis) of female patients. Methods: We evaluated 32 cases of normal, 30 cases of osteopenia and 38 cases of osteoporosis based on BMD, BMI, Age, pain duration among the female inpatients with LBP caused by lumbar disc herniation, admitted at Jaseng Hospital of Oriental Medicine from January 2010 to December 2011. And we measured VNRS(Verbal Numeric Rating Scale) to evaluate the conservative treatment effects. Results: In improvement of female LBP caused by lumbar disc herniation, BMD(T-score), BMI had not proved correlation(P-value>0.05). Female patients' age was negatively correlated with T-score. In pain improvement, BMD normal group showed more reduction of NRS(numeric rating scale) than osteoporosis group, but that had not proved correlation(p-value=0.893). Conclusions: Statically, among the female inpatients with LBP caused by lumbar disc herniation, had no significant differences between the normal group, osteopenia group and osteoporosis group's improvement rate, depending on treating period.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.45-55
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• 2022

Background: This study compared the effects of trunk stabilization exercise and hip joint exercises on the range of motion of the lumbar spine, pain severity, and severity of disability in patients with chronic lower back pain. Methods: A total of 30 participants were enrolled and divided into group 1 (n=10), group 2 (n=10), and group 3 (n=10) were performed by each group thrice a week for a total of 8 weeks. Group 1 performed warm-up exercise (15 min), trunk stabilization exercise (25 min), finish-up exercise (15mins). Group 2 performed warm-up exercise (15 min), hip exercise (25 mins, finish-up exercise (15mins). Group 3 warm-up exercise (15 min), trunk stabilization and hip exercise (25 min), Finish-up exercise (15 min). Participants were assessed for the range of motion of the lumbar spine, pain severity (visual analog scale score; VAS), and severity of disability (Oswestry disability index score; ODI) before and after the interventions. Results: All three groups showed a significant increase in the range of motion of the lumbar spine, but there was no significant difference among the groups. Moreover, the severity of pain and ODI were significantly decreased in all groups; however, the intergroup differences were non-significant. Conclusion: The results from this study confirmed the effectiveness of trunk stabilization and hip joint exercise in improving the lumbar range of motion, pain severity, and chronic lower back pain in patients. Thus, trunk and pelvic stabilization exercises and hip joint exercise can be used as clinical practices to treat and prevent chronic lower back pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.442-449
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• 2019

Objective : Bone mineral density (BMD) is an important consideration during fusion surgery. Although dual X-ray absorptiometry is considered as the gold standard for assessing BMD, quantitative computed tomography (QCT) provides more accurate data in spine osteoporosis. However, QCT has the disadvantage of additional radiation hazard and cost. The present study was to demonstrate the utility of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithm for assessing osteoporosis using Hounsfield units (HU) of preoperative lumbar CT coupling with data of QCT. Methods : We reviewed 70 patients undergoing both QCT and conventional lumbar CT for spine surgery. The T-scores of 198 lumbar vertebra was assessed in QCT and the HU of vertebral body at the same level were measured in conventional CT by the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) system. A multiple regression algorithm was applied to predict the T-score using three independent variables (age, sex, and HU of vertebral body on conventional CT) coupling with T-score of QCT. Next, a logistic regression algorithm was applied to predict osteoporotic or non-osteoporotic vertebra. The Tensor flow and Python were used as the machine learning tools. The Tensor flow user interface developed in our institute was used for easy code generation. Results : The predictive model with multiple regression algorithm estimated similar T-scores with data of QCT. HU demonstrates the similar results as QCT without the discordance in only one non-osteoporotic vertebra that indicated osteoporosis. From the training set, the predictive model classified the lumbar vertebra into two groups (osteoporotic vs. non-osteoporotic spine) with 88.0% accuracy. In a test set of 40 vertebrae, classification accuracy was 92.5% when the learning rate was 0.0001 (precision, 0.939; recall, 0.969; F1 score, 0.954; area under the curve, 0.900). Conclusion : This study is a simple machine learning model applicable in the spine research field. The machine learning model can predict the T-score and osteoporotic vertebrae solely by measuring the HU of conventional CT, and this would help spine surgeons not to under-estimate the osteoporotic spine preoperatively. If applied to a bigger data set, we believe the predictive accuracy of our model will further increase. We propose that machine learning is an important modality of the medical research field.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2010

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the sense of improvement and satisfaction from 7 cases of herniated lumbar disc patients which was treated with spine decompression&chuna. Methods: Each patient has been treated with spine decompression and chuna treatment. The degree of improvement has been evaluated by VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) and ODI(Oswestry Disability Index) score starting from the day of admission, after 1week, and 2weeks. Results and Conclusions: Through the result, spine decompression and chuna treatment proved to have valid effect for Herniated Lumbar Disc. and there needs more clinical studies into synergy between spine decompression and Chuna treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.259-269
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• 2024

This case report describe the effectiveness of combination treatment with Korean medicine for chronic functional constipation after lumbar interbody fusion. A female patient was treated for constipation lasting more than 6 months after surgery for lumbar disc herniation. For assessment, we used a NRS and Health-related Quality of Life Instrument with 8-Item Questionnaire (HINT-8). To assess changes in stool appearance, we used the Bristol Stool Scale. After 2 months of treatment, the NRS decreased from 8 to 1, the HINT-8 total score increased from 25 to 13, and the Bristol stool scale also improved. This case suggests that combined treatment with herbal medicine can improve symptoms of chronic constipation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.173-180
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the effects of sling exercise therapy on vertebral alignment, VAS, muscle activity, and multifidus of patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: Simple random sampling was used to divide the patients (n=116) into the sling exercise therapy group (SETG) and conservative physical therapy group (CPTG), with each group provided a intervention program in 3 sessions a week for 12 weeks. The lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), lumbar intervertebral disc angle (LIVDA) for vertebral alignment, lumbar muscle activity, and multifidus atrophy were measured before and after the intervention. Results: SETG showed significant changes in LLA, LIVDA of rate of change (delta score), and in relieving pain. The right-left balance gap for the lumbar dynamic muscle activity decreased after the intervention. The SETG showed significant changes in the grade of lumbar multifidus atrophy. Conclusion: The sling exercise therapy program is an effective exercise therapy method on vertebral alignment, muscle activity, recovery from multifidus atrophy, and pain relief for patients with chronic low back pain.