• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.172-181
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• 2019

This case report relates to a 40-year old male patient diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis who was treated with acupotomy and traditional Korean medicine. He showed a significant improvement in joint range of motion (ROM) in cervical and lumbar vertebrae, and in pain and functional disorder symptoms. The patient received acupotomy, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine and physical therapy (November 26, 2018 to December 17, 2018). Joint ROM for cervical and lumbar vertebrae was measured, and the pain level was assessed using a numerical rating scale. The functional disorder and quality of life scales were also assessed using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire, and Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire. After applying acupotomy and traditional Korean medicine, the patient exhibited increased joint ROM and reduced pain, also in conjunction with improved responses in functional disorder and quality of life.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.67-84
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• 2010

Objectives : To review RCTs on acupuncture treatment for shoulder pain in order to establish a standard acupuncture treatment model in treating shoulder pain. Methods : RCT articles on traditional acupuncture treatment for shoulder pain were searched through online database. Quality of studies were assessed using the FEAS and the modified Jadad score. Results : Eighteen trials of acupuncture for shoulder pain were analyzed. Based on the results of these reviews the following factors might contribute to optimal results from acupuncture treatment. 1) Usage of LI, SI, TE meridians, usage of $LI_{15}$, $TE_{14}$, $GB_{21}$, $LI_{11}$, $LI_4$, $SI_{14}$, $LI_{14}$, $TE_{15}$ acupuncture points. 2) More than four acupuncture points should be used. 3) More than 15 minutes of needle retention time. 4) Needle length-40mm and diameter-0.30mm. 5) More than 9 times treatment 6) More than 5 weeks treatment duration. Conclusions : There was no relation between quality of article and effectiveness of acupuncture. To improve the remedial value, it is necessary to mention De-qi, stimulation of acupuncture and correct variation in diagnosis with the above-mentioned. It is better that clinical trials of acupuncture treatment is designed that type of RCT and double blind. Also when it is set that sham nonpenetrating acupuncture, no treatment group as a control group, and participants don't distinguish wheather acupuncture treatment or not, it will be more meaningful.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.105-116
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• 2009

The use of acupuncutre has been increased worldwide, and large number of researches on acupuncture with improved quality has been conducted. Nevertheless, results of acupuncture treatment in those research tend to show mixed results, while many patients continuously seek acupuncture treatment as an adjuvant or alternatives for their health. Researchers and clinicians relevant to acupuncture are faced at this problematic discrepancy between the results of acupuncture in clinical trial including an randomized controlled trial and those of day-to-day clinical practice. The methodology of pragmatic clinical trial seems to be one of the promising research tools administering this problem especially in the area of complementary alternative medicine and traditional Korean medicine. In this study we first reviewed articles on the pragmatic clinical trial, summarized the essential concepts of 'explanatory' clinical trial 'pragmatic' clinical trial and then presented recent recommendations and arguments on this issue. We also analyzed and compared two similar pragmatic clinical trial protocols to show the readers the complexity of research designing. We hope more researchers in traditional Korean medicine will be interested in the methodology of pragmatic clinical trials and this study will serve to produce various high-quality clinical trials.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with storage, voiding, and post-micturition reduce quality of life and cause mental health problems. In traditional medicine, Baliao points have been empirically used to treat urinary system diseases. In this review, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using sacral acupuncture on Baliao points with sham treatment, other remedies, or other acupoints were retrieved from 8 electronic databases up to June 2021. Sixteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The quality of the included studies was assessed using a risk-of-bias (ROB) tool. Most of the evaluation indicators used in the included RCTs showed that sacral acupuncture had a significant therapeutic effect compared with the sham control intervention groups, and other remedies. However, all studies using acupoints (other than the Baliao points) as a control intervention had a "high" ROB and only reported secondary processed information, making it difficult to evaluate the efficacy of sacral acupuncture treatment for LUTS. No serious adverse effects were reported for sacral acupuncture, and only a low number of minor side effects were observed. These results suggest that sacral acupuncture could be considered as an alternative to existing treatments, with the added benefit of low cost. Large-scale, long-term RCTs are required in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.135-140
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• 2005

Objectives : There have been several studies about the quality of acupuncture needle tip recently. We have investigated the condition of the tip of the acupuncture needles in the last studies. In the former studies, we discovered the metallic scuff, lumps and irregularities of the acupuncture needle tips under the microscope. But, no information was available on those foreign materials' identity. Methods : We have selected 200 needles of 1000 pieces from several companies by randomized methods. And we observed the tip of the 6 needles selected finally at ${\times}1000\;or\;{\times}3000$ magnification and analyzed the components of the metallic scuff, lumps and irregularities of the needle tips with a SEM-EDX analyser. Results : We found that the identity of the metallic scuff, lumps and irregularities of the needle tips were metallic materials and silicon. For example, A point was composed of Fe(69.78%), Cr(17.71%), Ni(8.11%), Zn(2.04%), Si(1.23%), Mn(1.12%), and B point was composed of Si(66.40%), Fe(26.76%), Cr(6.84%). Conclusion : The results of this study confirm that there is a real possibility of the remaining of metallic materials and silicon in body of patient, after acupuncture treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to intensify our efforts to make needles of good quality and to concentrate on manufacturing process of acupuncture needles completely to be free from danger in acupuncture treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2022

Background: This study investigated the clinical effectiveness of Korean medicine (KM) treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). Methods: There were 61 patients who were diagnosed with SIS in the Jaseng hospital network of KM (7 hospitals located in Korea: Gangnam, Daejeon, Bucheon, Haeundae, Bundang, Ulsan, and Gwangju) between January 1^st, 2015 and December 31^st, 2020 who were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were grouped according to complications, intake of analgesics, duration of illness preadmission, and treatment. Treatments consisted of herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping, Chuna, pharmacopuncture, bee venom pharmacopuncture, medicinal steaming, Daoyin exercises, and physical therapy. By comparing the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, and European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions questionnaire scores, the effectiveness of integrated KM treatment was evaluated. Results: There were 14 males and 47 females. For inpatients diagnosed with SIS, the mean NRS score decreased from 5.78 ± 1.33 to 3.40 ± 1.43 (p < 0.001). The mean Shoulder Pain and Disability Index score decreased from 53.87 ± 14.76 to 38.56 ± 18.87 (p < 0.001), and the mean European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions questionnaire increased from 0.67 ± 0.13 to 0.76 ± 0.09 (p < 0.001) after KM treatment. Medicinal steaming (0.398; p < 0.001), acupuncture (0.290), cupping (0.288), bee venom pharmacopuncture (0.282), and Daoyin exercises (0.262; p < 0.05) had a positive correlation with improved changes in the NRS score. Conclusion: Conclusion: Treatment with integrated KM treatment improved the pain, range of motion, shoulder function, and quality of life of patients with SIS.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.175-181
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• 2021

A 57-year-old female diagnosed with L5-S1 lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, suffering from severe pain despite taking tapentadol received combined Korean medicine treatment, including acupotomy, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal therapies for 53 days. To assess pain, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and lumbar range of motion (ROM) were checked daily from the day of admission. Moreover, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) were used to evaluate function and quality of life. After combined Korean medicine treatment, reabsorptioin of intervertebral disc was confirmed by radiological examination; pain reduced from NRS 5~7 to NRS 1~2; lumbar ROM in extention increased from 20° to 30°; and function and quality of life improved. The results suggest the possibility that a combined Korean medical treatment, including acupotomy, can be used as an alternative to opioids for pain management of lumbar vertebral disc herniation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2020

This case report describes a 60-year-old female patient diagnosed with intercostal neuropathy and vertebral compression fractures which occurred following an electric shock injury. The patient received acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine administration between February 10^th, 2020 and April 25^th, 2020. The pain level in the thoracic and left intercostal areas was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale. The Self-report of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Pain Scale were used to diagnose neuropathic pain. The Neuropathic-Pain -Scale was used to evaluate the degree of neuropathic symptoms. The Oswestry Disability Index and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions were used to assess quality of life scales and functional disorder. Following combined Korean medicine treatment, the patient exhibited reduced levels of pain and significant improvement in functional disorder symptoms and quality of life.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.176-184
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to understand current situation of acupuncture and moxibustion for male infertility. Methods: We searched all relevant studies of male infertility patients treated with acupuncture and moxibustion. Electronic searches were conducted in Pubmed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE and 4 Korean databases until October 2013. Results: A total of 10 reports were included in the review. Two case reports, one case series, three before and after studies, one cohort study, one non-randomized controlled study and two randomized controlled studies were reviewed. Although the majority of studies suggested a positive effect of acupuncture on male infertility, the quality of studies was low. Data on adverse effects were lacking. Conclusions: We found a benefit from acupuncture for poor semen quality in male infertility. These findings should be treated with caution as the evidence was low or very low quality. To further evaluate the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion in male infertility, well-designed randomized controlled studies are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.159-169
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• 2022

Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a term that applies to symptoms such as persistent or recurring low back pain, paresthesia, sciatica, or numbness after spine surgery. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to have excellent analgesic effects although there have been no systematic reviews on the effects of EA on FBSS. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of EA on FBSS was conducted. Eight databases were searched for studies that used EA for FBSS and 7 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. RCTs of EA as combination therapy for FBSS compared with conventional treatment demonstrated improvement in the level of pain, lumbar functional scale scores, and quality of life. However, meta-analysis showed that reduction in pain was not statistically significant, while evaluation of lumbar function significantly improved, although the quality of evidence in the RCTs was generally low. RCTs comparing EA alone with conventional treatment demonstrated an improved level of pain, lumbar function, and effective rate of treatment. Meta-analysis showed that pain was significantly decreased in the EA alone group compared with the control group, although the quality of evidence was low. To improve the quality of evidence, high-quality RCTs are required in the future.