• 근관절건강학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.33-41
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the pain patterns and factors affecting low back pain in middle-aged women with backache. Method: A descriptive research design was utilized. The participants were middle-aged women who visited to two back pain clinics in Wonju from October, 2006 through February, 2007. A total of 195 low back pain patients agreed to participate in this study, and data from 177 were analyzed. Data were collected using a questionnaire which included a modified short-form Korean pain rating scale, demographic factors, factors related to low back pain and health behavior. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis was utilized in the analysis. Results: The mean score for low back pain was relatively low(M=21.57, SD=11.44). Among pain patterns, scores for dull pain were the highest of all the dimensions. In the regression analysis, significant factors affecting low back pain were found to be age, level of education, religion, BMI, experience of pregnancy, delivery type and exercise. These variables explained 24.8% of variance in low back pain(F=3.79, p<.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that nurses need for assessment and intervention to take into consideration pain patterns as well as factors affecting middle-age women with backache.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.15-19
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate correlations between anxiety and preoperative pressure pain assessments and postoperative pain and analgesic requirements in impacted lower third molar tooth surgery. Materials and Methods: This prospective study enrolled 60 patients who underwent impacted lower third molar surgery. The preoperative State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-I (STAI-I), pressure pain threshold, and pressure pain tolerance scores were measured. At 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours, and at 6 days following surgery, the patients scored their pain on the visual analogue scale and recorded their analgesic drug usage. The data were evaluated, and the results were statistically analyzed. Results: Of the 60 patients, 38 were female. Mean age was 24.62±7.42 years. The study found no relationship between preoperative pressure pain assessments and postoperative pain (P>0.05). There was also no relationship observed between preoperative STAI-I scores and postoperative pain (P>0.05). However, there was a positive correlation between operation time and total medication taken (P<0.05). Conclusion: Preoperative pressure pain threshold, pressure pain tolerance, and anxiety level had no significant effects on postoperative pain and analgesic requirements in impacted lower third molar surgery.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.28-37
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of smartphone use on muscle fatigue and tenderness in the cervical erector spinae (CES) and the upper trapezius (UT) and on the cervical range of motion among subjects with and without neck muscle pain. The subjects were 30 smartphone users in their 20 s who -were assigned to either an experimental group with neck muscle pain or a control group without neck muscle pain. Muscle fatigue and tenderness in the CES and the UT as well as the subjects' cervical range of motion were measured before and after 20-min smartphone sessions in a sitting position. In a between-group comparison of muscle fatigue, the experimental group showed a significantly greater decrease in median frequency in the CES and the right UT after smartphone use (p<.05). Regarding the assessment of muscle tenderness after smartphone use, the experimental group showed a statistically significant decrease in the pressure-pain threshold (PPT) in all muscles (p<.05), whereas the control group showed a significantly decreased PPT in the right CES and the UT (p<.05). The assessment of the cervical range of motion revealed a statistically significant reduction in the cervical flexion-extension and left lateral flexion in the experimental group (p<.05) after smartphone use. However, there was no significant change in the cervical range of motion in the control group (p>.05) after smartphone use. When compared with the control group, the experimental group demonstrated greater changes in cervical extension, lateral flexion, and rotation, except for cervical flexion (p<.05). In conclusion, when smartphone users have pre-existing neck muscle pain, the use of a smartphone further increased muscle fatigue and tenderness in the neck and reduced PPT and the cervical range of motion.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.411-417
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• 2018

Last year, the elderly population aged 65 years and over exceeded 14.2 percent of the total population, and Korea has entered the ageing society. At the same time, social interest in improving the health level and quality of life in the elderly has also increased. In particular, pain is one of the most common diseases experienced by middle-aged and elderly people and is one of the factors that closely affect the quality of life. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the pain level and pain region of Korean medicine users and the use of Korean medicine in the Korean middle aged and elderly using the 6th Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) panel. As a result, the main influencing factors of Korean medical care were subjective factors such as gender, subjective health status, and education level. In particular, half of the middle-aged and elderly who used Korean medicine experienced back and knee pain, and generally complained of low level of pain. This study suggests the need for research and development of Korean medicine that can control and relieve the pain of the middle-aged and elderly.

• 패션비즈니스
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.93-107
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• 2023

This study aimed to design a knee brace with dry electrode EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) for elite badminton players suffering from knee pain and assess its effectiveness in relieving pain and improving mobility. The assessment measured knee joint range of motion (ROM), Sargent jump height, and pain perception using a visual analog scale (VAS). Four experimental groups were established: stability, pain induction after 100 squats, muscle soreness induction with a regular knee brace, and muscle soreness induction with the EMS knee brace. The most suitable knee brace was selected from four samples to design the EMS knee brace. The conductive fabric was integrated into the inner surface of the knee brace to enhance EMS conductivity for the quadriceps muscles. Tensile strength tests showed that the dry electrode did not significantly affect the physical functionality of the knee brace.Regarding knee joint ROM and Sargent jump height, the EMS knee brace outperformed muscle soreness induction with a regular knee brace and wearing a standard knee brace. VAS measurements demonstrated that the EMS braces effectively alleviated pain perception in most cases. The results indicate the potential for developing EMS braces to alleviate pain and prevent injuries for athletes across various sports.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.181-189
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• 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative condition characterized by loss of motor neurons, resulting in motor weakness of the limbs and/or bulbar muscles. Pain is a prevalent but neglected symptom of ALS, and it has a significant negative impact on the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. This review outlines the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, underlying mechanisms, and management strategies of pain in ALS to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes related to pain. Pain is a prevalent symptom among patients with ALS, with a variable reported prevalence. It may occur at any stage of the disease and can involve any part of the body without a specific pattern. Primary pain includes neuropathic pain and pain from spasticity or cramps, while secondary pain is mainly nociceptive, occurring with the progression of muscle weakness and atrophy, prolonged immobility causing degenerative changes in joints and connective tissue, and long-term home mechanical ventilation. Prior to treatment, the exact patterns and causes of pain must first be identified, and the treatment should be tailored to each patient. Treatment options can be classified into pharmacological treatments, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiepileptic drugs, drugs for cramps or spasticity, and opioid; and nonpharmacological treatments, including positioning, splints, joint injections, and physical therapy. The development of standardized and specific assessment tools for pain-specific to ALS is required, as are further studies on treatments to reduce pain, diminish suffering, and improve the quality of life of patients with ALS.

• 한국직업건강간호학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.342-353
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to systematically review literature and conduct a meta-analysis to comprehensively identify and evaluate the effects of workplace risk assessment-based ergonomic intervention on work-related muscular-skeletal disorders in workers. Methods: We searched the Ovid-Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane library and up to 2018 using search terms such as muscular-skeletal, disorder, impairment, work-related muscular-skeletal disorders, ergonomic, intervention, management with no language limitations; screened reference lists; and contacted experts in the field. Results: We identified 545 references and included 13 randomized controlled tests (3,368 workers). We judged nine studies to have a low risk of bias, while the other four studies have a high risk of bias. Conclusion: Ergonomic intervention based on risk assessment in the workplace did not significantly differ in terms of the intensity of pain or duration of workers in the workplace, but low-quality evidence decreased the frequency of musculoskeletal disorder pain in three to six months moderate-quality evidence and in six to nine months low-quality evidence. Besides, low-quality evidence to reduce discomfort and moderate-quality evidence to improve worker posture. Therefore, ergonomic intervention based on the assessment of risk factors in the workplace should be applied to reduce pain frequency and discomfort and improve workers posture among musculoskeletal disorders.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.49-54
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• 2022

In Korea, companies which have work-related musculoskeletal burden works should have conducted legal risk assessments every three years from 2004 onwards. However, due to problems with the legal definition of work-related musculoskeletal burden works, some companies may have been exempted from the risk assessment even though their workers still experience work-related musculoskeletal pain. For example, the manufacturing process used by a particular semiconductor manufacturing company involved a great deal of legal musculoskeletal bueden works. However, this company eliminated the musculoskeletal burden works by continuously introducing automated processes, and finally, in 2016, all work which was legally defined as musculoskeletal burden work were removed from the company's manufacturing process. Nevertheless, in a 2016 survey, 9.6% of the company's workers still complained of musculoskeletal pain, and in a 2019 survey this proportion actually increased to 15.7%. This incident demonstrates the limitations and problems of the current legal risk assessment of work-related musculoskeletal burden work. Therefore, this study proposes two improvements to solve these problems. Firstly, it is necessary to broaden the current legal definition of work-related musculoskeletal burden works. For example, vibration risk factors and push/pull tasks that are currently missing from the definition should be included. Secondly, it is proposed that a survey on musculoskeletal pain should be conducted for all workers, regardless of whether they are engaged in musculoskeletal burden works. The results of this study could be used to improve the legal risk assessment of work-related musculoskeletal burden works.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.51-64
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• 2013

Objectives : This study is performed to develop the oriental medical rating scale of knee pain and to assess its validity. Methods : 250 knee pain patients completed the previously accepted rating scale of knee pain(VAS, WOMAC(pain, function, stiffness), 6 minute walk test(number of steps, distance)) and oriental medical rating scale of knee pain which was developed by Hwang et al at 2012, before and after the 6 weeks acupuncture treatment. Comparing these results, we assessed the validity of oriental medical rating scale. Results : Comparing oriental medical rating scale of knee pain before acupuncture treatment with VAS, WOMAC(pain, function, stiffness) and 6 minute walk test(number of steps, distance), oriental medical rating scale showed correlation with VAS, WOMAC(pain, function, stiffness) and showed the highest correlation with WOMAC(function). Comparing the change of oriental medical rating scale of knee pain after 6 weeks of acupuncture treatment with the change of VAS, WOMAC(pain, function, stiffness) and 6 minute walk test(number of steps, distance) after 6 weeks, change of oriental medical rating scale showed correlation with the change of VAS, WOMAC(pain, function, stiffness) and showed the highest correlation with the change of WOMAC(function). Through factor analysis of oriental medical rating scale items, 4 factors(pain, swelling, deformation of the knee, thermal sense of the knee), 17 items were extracted. Conclusions : Oriental medical rating scale of knee pain reflected the patient's pain, functional limitation and stiffness well. And oriental medical rating scale reflected the patient's functional improvement after the treatment well.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.243-249
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• 2017

Pain is subjective, while statistics related to pain research are objective. This review was written to help researchers involved in pain research make statistical decisions. The main issues are related with the level of scales that are often used in pain research, the choice of statistical methods between parametric or nonparametric statistics, and problems which arise from repeated measurements. In the field of pain research, parametric statistics used to be applied in an erroneous way. This is closely related with the scales of data and repeated measurements. The level of scales includes nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales. The level of scales affects the choice of statistics between parametric or non-parametric methods. In the field of pain research, the most frequently used pain assessment scale is the ordinal scale, which would include the visual analogue scale (VAS). There used to be another view, however, which considered the VAS to be an interval or ratio scale, so that the usage of parametric statistics would be accepted practically in some cases. Repeated measurements of the same subjects always complicates statistics. It means that measurements inevitably have correlations between each other, and would preclude the application of one-way ANOVA in which independence between the measurements is necessary. Repeated measures of ANOVA (RMANOVA), however, would permit the comparison between the correlated measurements as long as the condition of sphericity assumption is satisfied. Conclusively, parametric statistical methods should be used only when the assumptions of parametric statistics, such as normality and sphericity, are established.