• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of study was to better understand the effects of Interferential Current (IFC) and Ultrasound on the ROM and pain in patients with chronic back muscle pain. Methods : Twenty patients with chronic back pain were randomly assigned to IFC stimulation groups and Ultrasound stimulation groups. Both groups used the same method for 20 minutes each session, three times a week for 4 weeks at the same time point and with the same amount of treatment. Measurement items are visual analogue scale (VAS) and range of motion (ROM). Results : This study showed that the IFC stimulation group and the ultrasound stimulation group demonstrated significant improvement in ROM increase and pain reduction. Both groups showed a significant reduction in VAS; however, the ultrasound stimulation group decreased more than ultrasound stimulation group. And, both groups showed a significant increase in ROM. The ultrasound stimulation group increased significantly more than the IFC stimulation group in ROM of flexion and extension. The IFC stimulation group increased significantly more than the ultrasound stimulation group in ROM of lateral flexion. Conclusion : Pain relief was more effective in the ultrasound group. The ultrasound showed a more significant effect than IFC in ROM of flexion and extension. The IFC showed a more significant effect than ultrasound in ROM lateral flexion. The results of this study suggest that the treatment effects are different on patients with chronic back pain, according to treatment methods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.233-243
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• 2010

Purpose : This study aimed to examine the effects of sling exercise therapy on the relief of low back pain and the cross-sectional area change of lumbar muscles by CT analysis for chronic low back pain patients. Methods : Forty-one patients with diagnosis of chronic low back pain was divided sling exercise therapy group(SEG) 19 subjects and conservative physical therapy group(CPG) 22 subjects. we randomized and treated them(subjects) for 12 weeks. As using visual analogue scale(VAS), we evaluated recovery accuracy of pain, and for investigating cross-section area change of lumbar muscles for before and after treatment we used computed tomography(CT). Results : This study were summarized as follows : 1) As treatment period, in each compared testing on VAS of SEG and CPG, the both group was significantly different(p<.05). 2) Compared testing on VAS of between-subject groups(SEG and CPG) were not significantly different(p>.05). 3) At SEG of before and after treatment, in compared testing on cross-section area size of lumbar muscles, All muscles of psoas major, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae and multifidus were significantly different(p<.05). At CPG, psoas major was significantly different(p<.05). But other muscles were not significantly different(p>.05). Conclusion : From this result, both sling exercise therapy and the conservative physical therapy are effect on decrease of pain for chronic low back pain patients. but Increasing of the cross-section area being proportioned with muscular strengthening of low back muscle is noticeable difference in SEG. Therefore, sling exercise therapy have affect both decreasing of pain for chronic low back pain patients and lumbar muscles strengthening.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2020

Background and Objectives Breast reconstruction has the advantage of reducing the loss of the body image of patients after mastectomy surgery, and also improving the quality of the social and sexual life of breast cancer patients. However, in surprising and unfortunate number of patients, acute postoperative pain persists beyond the normal course of postsurgical recovery. We set out to investigate the effect of local dynamical micro-massage (LDM) treatment for achieving pain relief and reducing other postoperative complications. Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective analysis on 58 patients who underwent LDM treatment for postoperative pain management at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital between February 2017 and June 2019. Those patients who complained of persistent postoperative pain, which was uncontrollable with medication, were treated with LDM. The degree of pain and discomfort with contracture were recorded using numerical rating scale (NRS) scoring system with numbers from 0 to 10 ('none' to 'worst'). Results The median NRS score of pain was reduced by 62.3% from the start to the end of LDM treatment (p<0.001). Further, the NRS score of discomfort with contracture was reduced 66.0% (p<0.001). There was no complication related to the LDM treatment. Conclusion Dual-frequency ultrasound LDM can be an effective therapeutic option for persisting pain after breast reconstruction surgery. It was also effective in improvement of discomfort with contracture and erythema of the surgical wound.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2000

Background: For terminal cancer pain management, controlled-release oral morphine (morphine sulfate tablet, MST) is a simple and convenient regimen. Recently, fentanyl transdermal therapeutic system (F-TTS, transdermal fentanyl) has been developed and became one of the alternative ways of providing adequate pain relief. This open prospective study was designed to compare the analgesic efficacy and safety of MST and transdermal fentanyl in the management of terminal cancer pain. Methods: In this open comparative and randomized study, 64 terminal cancer patients received one treatment for 15 days, controlled-release oral morphine (MST group) or fentanyl transdermal therapeutic system (F-TTS group). Daily diaries about the vital sign, visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, opioids requirement, co-anagesics, adjuvant drugs and adverse effects were completed with 24 patients in MST group, 18 patients in F-TTS group. Results: The majority of patients in both treatment groups were late-stage cancer and their distribution was not different in both groups. Daily opioids requirement was 126.4 mg in MST uced in F-TTS group (P<0.05). The incidence of nausea, vomiting and constipation was lower in F-TTS group (P<0.05). Patients satisfaction was similar, but F-TTS patient group favored continous use of same treatment compared with MST group after the study was finished. Conclusions: Transdermal fentanyl seems to be safe and similar analgesic effect to controlled-release oral morphine for the control of the terminal cancer patients. However, transdermal fentanyl provides a simpler and more convenient especially in respect to constipation, nausea & vomiting. To determine the exact analgesic effect, cost-effectiveness and complications, controlled trials should be followed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.141-150
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of non-elastic and elastic tapes on pain, craniovertebral angle, and balance in forward head posture (FHP) patients. METHODS: A total of 44 adults with FHP were randomly assigned to a group that performed a stretching exercise after non-elastic taping (n = 22) and another group that performed the stretching exercise after elastic taping (n = 22), respectively. The stretching exercise was performed five times a week for 30 minutes per session. The visual analogue scale was used to compare neck pain, the craniovertebral angle was measured to compare alignment, and the limit of stability was measured to compare balance. RESULTS: The groups that performed the stretching exercise after both elastic and non-elastic taping showed significant positive changes in pain and the craniovertebral angle of the head in pre- post measurements (p < .05). In the follow-up test for the pain and craniovertebral angle, there was no significant difference from the post-test in the non-elastic group (p > .05), but a significant difference was seen in the elastic group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Stretching exercises with taping for patients with a FHP are more effective in improving pain and alignment. However, the short-duration tape application did not affect the balancing ability. When the non-elastic tape was used, the effect lasted longer than that of the elastic tape, and pain relief was effective in the case of the elastic tape. Therefore, tape therapy would be more effective if customized according to the patient's condition.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.34-52
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• 2023

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effect of herbal medicines on transient hip synovitis (TSH) in children. Methods We searched 10 Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese databases for studies published up to September 19, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of herbal medicines on TSH levels in children were included. The Cochrane risk of bias was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. A meta-analysis was conducted according to outcome measurements, such as total effective rate (TER), visual analog score (VAS), time to pain relief, and hip joint mobility disorder disappearance time, using the Review Manager website. Results Eleven RCTs were included in this study. TER in the treatment group was significantly higher than in the control group. The duration of pain relief was significantly shorter in the treatment group than in the control group. The VAS score of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group, although the statistical heterogeneity was substantial. The hip joint mobility disorder disappeared in the treatment group treated with external therapy, which was significantly shorter than in the control group. Regarding safety, two of the 11 studies reported that there were no adverse events. Conclusions Herbal medicines are effective in the treatment of TSH in children. However, the safety of herbal medicines should be carefully considered due to the lack of data.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cold applied the night before or in the morning on pain and symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Design: Experimental study. Methods: Thirty subjects with plantar fasciitis were recruited for this study. Subjects with plantar fasciitis either had no intervention, cold applied (20 minutes) at night before bed, or 20 minutes in the morning upon wakening. Plantar fascia tenderness and pain were evaluated. There were ten subjects in each group. Measures included visual analog scale, plantar facial thickness via high resolution ultrasound, algometer measure, and range of motion of the ankle and foot. There were 3 groups of 10 subjects, control (no intervention), cold the night before bed, and cold in the morning before rising. Results: The greatest relief of symptoms was cold used at bedtime the night before the measurements. Cold used in the morning was not as effective as cold used in the evening before bed. Cold use reduced the thickness of the plantar fascia and irritation. There was a 13% reduction in plantar fascia thickness with cold the night before (p<0.05), a 44% reduction in pain and an 86 % increase in the force that could be applied to the bottom of the foot without pain (p<0.05). Conclusions: Cold applied for 20 minutes prior bedtime is effective for reduced symptomology caused by plantar fascia inflammation.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.156-163
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a bergamot essential oil-inhalation on chronic pain after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: Fifty-two subjects were randomly assigned to the experimental (bergamot essential oil-inhalation) and control (almond oil-inhalation) group. All patients understood the purpose of this study and a written informed consent for the study was obtained. Results: Bergamot essential oil-inhalation was conducted during twenty minutes. Visual analog scale, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate were measured before and after treatment in the two groups. The visual analog scale score, heart rate, and respiratory rate in bergamot essential oil-inhalation group were significantly lower than those in almond oil-inhalation group. However, there was no significant difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups. Conclusion: Therefore, bergamot essential oil-inhalation is effective in alleviating pain, heart rate, and respiratory rate. These results suggest that bergamot essential oil-inhalation can be a useful method for the relief of chronic pain during the treatment after spinal surgery.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.108-113
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• 1999

Background: There is some concern that the administration of epidural analgesia for pain relief during labor increases the likelihood of cesarean delivery. But, several investigators showed a decrease in the rate of emergency cesarean delivery after epidural analgesia. The purpose of this study was to compare the emergency cesarean rate between the two groups with and without epidural analgesia. Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records for 7846 parturients admitted our hospital between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 1996 and whose attending physician anticipated a normal labor and vaginal delivery. The number of parturients with epidural analgesia using 0.25% bupivacaine with fentanyl were 2839 and parturients without epidural analgesia were 5017. Results: An administration of epidural analgesia was not associated with the incidence of cesarean rate. 149 (5.25%) of 2839 parturients in epidural group and 371 (7.31%) of 5017 parturients in non-epidural group underwent emergency cesarean section. Conclusions: Our retrospective study has shown that an administration of epidural analgesia neither decrease nor increase in the rate of emergency cesarean delivery when compared with a non-epidural analgesia.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of line dance program on muscle strength, balance, flexibility, pain, and mood state in post-menopausal women. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design (one group pretest-posttest) was employed. A total of 13 post-menopausal women completed 12-week line dance program(60min/day, 2days/wk) in S city. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed rank test were used in the data analysis by SPSS 18.0. Results: Muscle strength and balance were higher, and pain level were lower than before the line dance program. However, flexibility and mood state were not significantly changed after the line dance program. Conclusion: Findings of this study indicated that the 12-week line dance program were effective on muscle strength, balance, and pain relief in the post-menopausal women. Future study is needed to explore the effect of the line dance program on flexibility and mood state with the post-menopausal women.