Search Results (9)

Background: Traffic injuries include acute low back pain (LBP) needing active treatment to prevent chronicity. This two-armed, parallel, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness and safety of progressive loading–motion style acupuncture treatment (PL-MSAT) for acute LBP following traffic accidents. Methods: Based on an effect size of 1.03, 104 participants were recruited and divided in a 1:1 ratio into PL-MAST and control groups using block randomization. Both groups underwent integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKMT) daily; only the PL-MSAT group underwent three PL-MSAT sessions. The outcomes were assessed before and after the treatment sessions and at 1 and 3 months post-discharge. The primary outcome was the difference in the numeric rating scale (NRS) for LBP. The secondary outcomes included a visual analog scale for LBP, leg pain status, the Oswestry disability index, lumbar active range of motion (ROM), quality of life, Patient Global Impression of Change, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist adverse events. Results: In the modified intention-to-treat analysis, 50 and 51 participants were included in the PL-MSAT and control groups. On Day 4, the mean LBP NRS score was 3.67 (3.44–3.90) in the PL-MSAT group, indicating a significantly lower NRS 0.77 (0.44–1.11) compared to 4.44 (4.20–4.68) for the control group (p < 0.001). The PL-MSAT group exhibited greater ROM flexion (−5.31; −8.15 to −2.48) and extension (−2.09; −3.39 to −0.80). No significant differences were found for the secondary outcomes and follow-ups. Conclusions: Compared with IKMT alone, PL-MSAT plus IKMT showed significantly better outcomes for reducing pain and increasing the ROM in acute LBP. Full article

Previous studies have shown the benefit and safety of pediatric acupuncture, but it is often rejected by patients and their caregivers due to the perception of needling pain associated with acupuncture. A retrospective cohort study of 230 unique patients (1380 sessions) aged 8 to 21 underwent Kiiko Matsumoto Style acupuncture in an outpatient pain clinic. Patients completed a post-acupuncture survey, including the Faces Pain Scale-Revised and Likert-like scales about overall satisfaction, relaxation, and anxiolysis. Univariate analyses were conducted on all outcomes of interest. The mean needling pain score was 1.3 out of 10 with 57.7% of patients reporting no needling pain during their first acupuncture session. The mean score for overall satisfaction was 8.4 out of 10, relaxation was 8.2 out of 10, and anxiety reduction was 7.7 out of 10. The overall satisfaction, relaxation, and anxiolytic effect of acupuncture was increased in patients with more sessions (p = 0.003, 0.022, 0.004, respectively). There was no change in needling pain scores in patients with an increased number of acupuncture sessions (p = 0.776). Patients experience minimal needling pain during acupuncture needling and are highly satisfied with acupuncture. Those with more treatment sessions report feeling increased satisfaction and relaxation. Full article

Measuring learning curves allows for the inspection of the rate of learning and competency threshold for each individual, training lesson, or training method. In this work, we investigated learning curves in acupuncture needle manipulation training with continuous performance measurement using a vision-based needle training system. We tracked the needle insertion depth of 10 students to investigate their learning curves. The results show that the group-level learning curve was fitted with the Thurstone curve, indicating that students were able to improve their needle insertion skills after repeated practice. Additionally, the analysis of individual learning curves revealed valuable insights into the learning experiences of each participant, highlighting the importance of considering individual differences in learning styles and abilities when designing training programs. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of and satisfaction with integrative Korean medicine treatment and motion style acupuncture treatment (MSAT) in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). We retrospectively analyzed medical charts and prospectively surveyed adult patients aged between 19 and 64 years treated for lumbar disc herniation for at least 6 days at three Korean hospitals from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020. The primary outcome was the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for back pain. Secondary outcome measures included the NRS for radiating leg pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimension-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. The NRS scores for low back pain decreased from 5.40 ± 1.58 to 2.92 ± 2.09, NRS for radiating leg pain from 5.57 ± 1.56 to 1.78 ± 2.36, and ODI from 46.39 ± 16.72 to 16.47 ± 15.61 at baseline and survey, respectively. The EQ-5D-5L increased from 0.57 ± 0.19 to 0.82 ± 0.14. In conclusion, Korean medicine and MSAT could be effective treatment methods for patients with LDH. The results of this study can be used as helpful information for clinicians who treat patients with LDH in real clinical settings. Full article

Acupuncture point (AP) selections can vary depending on clinicians’ acupuncture style, and therefore, acupuncture style is an important factor in determining the efficacy of acupuncture treatment. However, few studies have examined the differences in AP selections according to the acupuncture styles and theoretical backgrounds causing the differences. We compared the AP prescriptions used for 14 diseases in three classical medical textbooks, Dongeuibogam (DEBG), Saamdoinchimgooyogyeol (SADI), and Chimgoogyeongheombang (CGGHB), which represent unique acupuncture styles and have affected clinicians during this time. AP prescriptions showed more diversity between textbooks than between types of diseases. Among the three textbooks, AP prescriptions of SADI were most different compared to those of DEBG and CGGHB. Importantly, we found each style can be more clearly explained by AP attributes than by the APs per se. Specifically, SADI, DEBG, and CGGHB preferred five transport points located on the limbs, APs of the extra meridians, and source points, respectively. This suggests the possibility that the theoretical diversity of acupuncture styles results in the heterogeneity of AP selections. Full article

In this single-center, parallel, randomized controlled trial, we aim to examine the effects and safety of motion style acupuncture treatment (MSAT; a combination of acupuncture and Doin therapy) on pain reduction and functional improvement in patients with whiplash-associated disorders (WADs). Ninety-seven patients with cervical pain admitted to the Bucheon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, South Korea, due to acute whiplash injury were treated with integrative Korean medicine (IKM) with (MSAT group, 48 patients) or without (control group, 49 patients) an additional 3-day MSAT during hospitalization (5–14 days) and followed-up for 90 days. The mean numeric rating scale (NRS) scores of the MSAT and control groups at baseline were 5.67 (95% confidence interval (CI), 5.33, 6.01) and 5.44 (95% CI, 5.06, 5.82), respectively, and on day 5, 3.55 (95% CI, 3.04, 4.06) and 4.59 (95% CI, 4.10–5.07), respectively. The NRS change difference between the groups was −1.07 (95% CI, −1.76, −0.37). The rate of recovery of neck pain (NRS score change ≥ 2 points) was significantly faster in the MSAT than in the control group (log-rank test p = 0.0055). IKM treatment combined with MSAT may be effective in reducing the pain and improving the range of motion in patients with WADs. Full article

Objectives: In cancer patients, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (cipn) is a common complication, characterized by pain, loss of sensation, and numbness. Medical treatment for peripheral neuropathies has been shown to be ineffective for cipn. Acupuncture has been shown to be safe and effective in treating cancer-related symptoms and other peripheral neuropathies. For the present review, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of cipn. Design: Comprehensive searches for relevant studies were conducted in Ovid embase, the Web of Science, Ovid medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (central), cinahl (ebsco Information Services, Ipswich, MA, U.S.A.), and the ClinicalTrials.gov Web site. References from previous systematic reviews were also searched. Additional trials were found in the reference lists of relevant papers and in searches of Google Scholar and acupuncturespecific Web sites. Included studies were randomized controlled trials (rcts) of any type of acupuncture used to treat patients with cipn. Results: Three clinical trials (203 participants) were included. Two studies found acupuncture to be effective in alleviating cipn pain and improving quality of life. One study found no benefit in improving neuropathic pain, symptoms, or quality of life. Study quality was variable and included a moderate overall risk of bias. Conclusions: The evidence is insufficient to recommend acupuncture for the treatment or prevention of cipn. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of cipn. Given that acupuncture is considered safe and might provide relief for patients, it can be considered at the clinician’s discretion. Full article

Background: Some feelings elicited by acupuncture-type interventions are “nonspecific”, interpretable as resulting from the placebo effect, our own self-healing capacities—or, indeed, the flow of qi. Expectation is thought to contribute to these nonspecific effects. Here we describe the use of two innovative 20-item questionnaires (EXPre₂₀ and EXPost₂₀) in a teaching situation. Methods: Respondents were acupuncture students or practitioners on electroacupuncture (EA) training courses (N = 68). EXPre₂₀ and EXPost₂₀ questionnaires were completed before and after receiving individualised treatment administered by colleagues. Respondents were also asked about their prior experience of EA or transcutaneous electroacupuncture stimulation (TEAS). Results: Respondents expected significantly more items to change than not to change, but significantly fewer were experienced as changing. Increases in given questionnaire items were both expected and experienced significantly more often than decreases. “Tingling”, “Relaxation”, and “Relief” or “Warmth” were most often expected to increase or were experienced as such, and “Pain” and “Tension” to decrease or experienced as decreasing. Expectations of change or no change were confirmed more often than not, particularly for “Tingling” and “Tension”. This was not the result of the personal respondent style. Cluster analysis suggested the existence of two primary feeling clusters, “Relaxation” and “Alertness”. Conclusions: Feelings experienced during or immediately after acupuncture-type interventions may depend both on prior experience and expectation. Full article

Background: Most lung cancer patients experience multiple symptoms related either to the disease or its treatment. The commonly reported symptoms are pain, depression, anxiety, nausea, and poor well-being. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture as a potential treatment modality in symptomatic lung cancer patients. Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled 33 lung cancer patients from the Peter Brojde Lung Cancer Centre between August 2010 and May 2012. All patients received 45-minute sessions of acupuncture, 1–2 times weekly for a minimum of 4 sessions. Symptom severity was assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (esas) before and after completion of acupuncture. Results: The study cohort included 30 patients with non-small- cell lung cancer and 3 with small-cell lung cancer. Mean age was 62 years (range: 36–88 years); 17 of the patients were women. Most of the patients had advanced-stage cancer (73%) and good performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0–1: 88%). Of these patients, 67% received anticancer treatment (chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or both) with acupuncture. Of the remaining 10 patients, 8 received acupuncture after a complete surgical resection of their tumour, and because of their advanced age, 2 received acupuncture and best supportive care. The median number of acupuncture sessions was 7 (interquartile range: 4–13 sessions). Statistically significant improvements in pain, appetite, nausea, nervousness, and well-being were observed. A clinically important improvement (2 points on the esas) was reported by 61% of patients for pain and by 33% for well-being. A significant positive correlation between improved well-being and the number of acupuncture sessions was observed. This correlation remained significant even after controlling for treatment and narcotic use. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that a minimum of 6 acupuncture sessions are required for a 70% chance of a clinically important improvement in well-being. Conclusions: The present study is the first to demonstrate that acupuncture may be an effective approach for improving symptoms—in particular, pain and well–being—in lung cancer patients. Acupuncture is a safe and minimally invasive procedure, and it is potentially useful even in patients undergoing anticancer treatment. Full article