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Geummaek Research

Research Papers

A curated collection of academic research relevant to the clinical practice at Geummaek Korean Medicine Clinic.

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Research Papers
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Total 45 papers

All Wellness / Restoration Gongjindan (拱辰丹) Gyeongokgo (瓊玉膏) Gwanjeoldan (關節丹) Hyangseongpajeokhwan (響聲破笛丸) Mental Health Skin Conditions Digestive Disorders Respiratory Conditions ENT Disorders Neurological Disorders Pediatric / Adolescent Care Women's Health / Infertility Men's Health / Urology Geum! Maek! Capsule Diet Geum! Maek! Beauty Clinic Private Inpatient Room Traffic Accident Aftercare Pediatric Traffic Accident Workers' Compensation Lower Back Pain Neck Pain Shoulder Pain Elbow Pain Wrist / Hand Pain Hip Pain Knee Pain Ankle / Foot Pain TMJ Disorder
Cross-Sectional Neck Pain

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Forward Head Posture Syndrome in Office Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Yang SB, Oh MS, Chung WS, et al.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2022)

67.3% Prevalence
1,560 subjects Participants

Prevalence of forward head posture syndrome is very high in office workers, and complex management of occupational factors and lifestyle habits is needed.

View Source 2022
Cross-Sectional Neck Pain

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Forward Head Posture Syndrome in Office Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Yang SB, Oh MS, Chung WS, et al. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2022)
67.3% Prevalence
1,560 subjects Participants

Summary

The prevalence and related risk factors of forward head posture syndrome were investigated in 1,560 office workers at IT companies. Overall prevalence was 67.3%, and daily computer usage time, lack of exercise, and stress were identified as main risk factors.

Key Conclusion

Prevalence of forward head posture syndrome is very high in office workers, and complex management of occupational factors and lifestyle habits is needed.

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Narrative Review Neck Pain

Analgesic Mechanism Study of Electroacupuncture Treatment for Cervical Pain: A Narrative Review

Lee SH, Kang JW, Kim AR, et al.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2021)

85% Pain Control Effect
47 studies Analyzed Studies

Electroacupuncture treatment exerts analgesic effects on cervical pain through various mechanisms, and additional mechanism research is needed.

View Source 2021
Narrative Review Neck Pain

Analgesic Mechanism Study of Electroacupuncture Treatment for Cervical Pain: A Narrative Review

Lee SH, Kang JW, Kim AR, et al. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2021)
85% Pain Control Effect
47 studies Analyzed Studies

Summary

Basic and clinical research on the analgesic mechanism of electroacupuncture treatment for cervical pain was comprehensively reviewed. Electroacupuncture was shown to promote endorphin and serotonin secretion, activate descending pain inhibition pathways, and improve local blood flow.

Key Conclusion

Electroacupuncture treatment exerts analgesic effects on cervical pain through various mechanisms, and additional mechanism research is needed.

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Case Study Neck Pain

Non-Surgical Korean Medicine Treatment Effect for Cervical Disc Herniation: A Case Series

Jang SH, Yoon EH, Kim HJ, et al.

Journal of Korean Medicine (2020)

83% Surgery Avoidance Rate
12 subjects Participants

Integrated Korean medicine treatment shows potential as a non-surgical treatment alternative for cervical disc herniation.

View Source 2020
Case Study Neck Pain

Non-Surgical Korean Medicine Treatment Effect for Cervical Disc Herniation: A Case Series

Jang SH, Yoon EH, Kim HJ, et al. Journal of Korean Medicine (2020)
83% Surgery Avoidance Rate
12 subjects Participants

Summary

Intensive Korean medicine treatment including acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, chuna, and herbal medicine was administered for 16 weeks to 12 patients recommended for surgery due to cervical disc herniation. Ten of 12 patients showed significant symptom improvement without surgery, and disc size reduction was confirmed on follow-up MRI.

Key Conclusion

Integrated Korean medicine treatment shows potential as a non-surgical treatment alternative for cervical disc herniation.

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RCT Neck Pain

Effect and Safety of Pharmacopuncture Treatment for Chronic Cervical Pain Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Kim EJ, Jeon JH, Choi SM, et al.

Acupuncture in Medicine (2024)

79% Pain Reduction Rate
96 subjects Participants

Pharmacopuncture treatment was confirmed as a safe and effective treatment for chronic cervical pain.

View Source 2024
RCT Neck Pain

Effect and Safety of Pharmacopuncture Treatment for Chronic Cervical Pain Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Kim EJ, Jeon JH, Choi SM, et al. Acupuncture in Medicine (2024)
79% Pain Reduction Rate
96 subjects Participants

Summary

Ninety-six patients with chronic cervical pain were assigned to pharmacopuncture treatment and saline injection control groups for 8 weeks of treatment. The pharmacopuncture treatment group showed an average VAS pain score reduction of 4.1 points and significant cervical ROM improvement. No serious side effects were reported.

Key Conclusion

Pharmacopuncture treatment was confirmed as a safe and effective treatment for chronic cervical pain.

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Cohort Study Neck Pain

Effect of Early Korean Medicine Intervention for Chronicity Prevention After Cervical Sprain: A Cohort Study

Baek YH, Heo KH, Kim JH, et al.

Spine (2023)

64% Chronicity Reduction Rate
340 subjects Participants

Early Korean medicine intervention after cervical sprain plays an important role in chronicity prevention.

View Source 2023
Cohort Study Neck Pain

Effect of Early Korean Medicine Intervention for Chronicity Prevention After Cervical Sprain: A Cohort Study

Baek YH, Heo KH, Kim JH, et al. Spine (2023)
64% Chronicity Reduction Rate
340 subjects Participants

Summary

Three hundred forty patients with acute cervical sprain were divided into early Korean medicine treatment initiation (within 1 week of onset) and delayed initiation (after 3 weeks) groups and followed for 6 months. Chronicity rate in the early intervention group was 12.4%, significantly lower than the delayed intervention group (34.7%).

Key Conclusion

Early Korean medicine intervention after cervical sprain plays an important role in chronicity prevention.

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Meta-Analysis Neck Pain

Comparison of Chuna Therapy and Manual Therapy for Cervical Pain Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Lim KT, Song MY, Cho JH, et al.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2023)

73% Effective Rate
1,087 subjects Total Participants

Chuna therapy shows equivalent or superior effects to manual therapy in cervical pain treatment.

View Source 2023
Meta-Analysis Neck Pain

Comparison of Chuna Therapy and Manual Therapy for Cervical Pain Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Lim KT, Song MY, Cho JH, et al. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2023)
73% Effective Rate
1,087 subjects Total Participants

Summary

Fourteen RCTs comparing the cervical pain treatment effects of chuna therapy and Western manual therapy were meta-analyzed. Both treatments showed significant pain reduction effects, but chuna therapy showed slightly superior results in cervical ROM improvement.

Key Conclusion

Chuna therapy shows equivalent or superior effects to manual therapy in cervical pain treatment.

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Before-After Neck Pain

Safety and Effect of Needle-Knife Treatment for Cervical Disc Disease: A Pre-Post Comparison Study

Hong JY, Park TY, Shin KM, et al.

Pain Medicine (2021)

57% NRS Reduction Rate
48 subjects Participants

Needle-knife treatment can be utilized as an effective and safe treatment for cervical disc disease.

View Source 2021
Before-After Neck Pain

Safety and Effect of Needle-Knife Treatment for Cervical Disc Disease: A Pre-Post Comparison Study

Hong JY, Park TY, Shin KM, et al. Pain Medicine (2021)
57% NRS Reduction Rate
48 subjects Participants

Summary

Needle-knife treatment was administered twice weekly for 4 weeks to 48 patients with cervical disc disease. After treatment, NRS pain scores decreased from an average of 6.8 to 2.9, and NDI scores also improved significantly. No serious side effects other than mild procedural site pain were reported.

Key Conclusion

Needle-knife treatment can be utilized as an effective and safe treatment for cervical disc disease.

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Cross-Sectional Neck Pain

Pharmacopuncture Injection Point Study for Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Ahn YC, Song BK, Lee JM, et al.

Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies (2022)

78.4% Acupoint-Trigger Point Concordance Rate
230 subjects Participants

The high concordance rate between acupoints and trigger points supports the theoretical basis of pharmacopuncture treatment.

View Source 2022
Cross-Sectional Neck Pain

Pharmacopuncture Injection Point Study for Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Ahn YC, Song BK, Lee JM, et al. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies (2022)
78.4% Acupoint-Trigger Point Concordance Rate
230 subjects Participants

Summary

The correlation between trigger point distribution and pharmacopuncture injection points was investigated in 230 patients with upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome. Concordance rate between acupoints and trigger points was 78.4%, with the highest concordance at Pungji (GB20) and Gyeonjeong (GB21).

Key Conclusion

The high concordance rate between acupoints and trigger points supports the theoretical basis of pharmacopuncture treatment.

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RCT Neck Pain

Effect of Chuna Therapy Protocol for Straight Neck Correction: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Kang BK, Lee NR, Im SH, et al.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2024)

8.7° Cervical Lordosis Angle Increase
178 subjects Participants

The standardized chuna therapy protocol is more effective than exercise therapy for straight neck correction.

View Source 2024
RCT Neck Pain

Effect of Chuna Therapy Protocol for Straight Neck Correction: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Kang BK, Lee NR, Im SH, et al. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2024)
8.7° Cervical Lordosis Angle Increase
178 subjects Participants

Summary

One hundred seventy-eight straight neck patients from 5 Korean medicine hospitals were compared between a standardized chuna therapy protocol group and an exercise therapy control group. After 16 weeks, the chuna therapy group showed an average 8.7-degree increase in cervical lordosis angle, significantly improved compared with the exercise therapy group (4.2 degrees).

Key Conclusion

The standardized chuna therapy protocol is more effective than exercise therapy for straight neck correction.

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Narrative Review Neck Pain

Mechanism Study on the Thermal Effect of Korean Medicine Physical Therapy for Cervical Pain: A Narrative Review

Woo HS, Choi JY, Son CG, et al.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2022)

72% Muscle Relaxation Effect
38 studies Analyzed Studies

The thermal effects of Korean medicine physical therapy contribute to cervical pain relief through multiple mechanisms.

View Source 2022
Narrative Review Neck Pain

Mechanism Study on the Thermal Effect of Korean Medicine Physical Therapy for Cervical Pain: A Narrative Review

Woo HS, Choi JY, Son CG, et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2022)
72% Muscle Relaxation Effect
38 studies Analyzed Studies

Summary

The thermal effect mechanisms of Korean medicine physical therapy (moxibustion, infrared, hot pack, TDP) for cervical pain were reviewed. Thermal stimulation was confirmed to increase local blood flow, promote muscle relaxation, and raise pain threshold. Moxibustion treatment particularly promoted anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion.

Key Conclusion

The thermal effects of Korean medicine physical therapy contribute to cervical pain relief through multiple mechanisms.

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Cohort Study Neck Pain

Relationship Between Sleep Disorders and Korean Medicine Treatment Effects in Cervical Pain Patients: A Cohort Study

Min WK, Lyu YS, Jung IC, et al.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2024)

64% Sleep-Pain Correlation Coefficient
198 subjects Participants

Concurrent treatment of sleep disorders in cervical pain patients contributes to enhancing pain management effects.

View Source 2024
Cohort Study Neck Pain

Relationship Between Sleep Disorders and Korean Medicine Treatment Effects in Cervical Pain Patients: A Cohort Study

Min WK, Lyu YS, Jung IC, et al. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2024)
64% Sleep-Pain Correlation Coefficient
198 subjects Participants

Summary

The correlation between sleep quality improvement and pain reduction after Korean medicine treatment was followed for 12 weeks in 198 patients with cervical pain and sleep disorders. The group with improved sleep quality showed greater pain reduction, and a positive correlation between PSQI and VAS (r=0.64) was confirmed.

Key Conclusion

Concurrent treatment of sleep disorders in cervical pain patients contributes to enhancing pain management effects.

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Meta-Analysis Neck Pain

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Korean Medicine Non-Surgical Treatment for Cervical Disc Herniation: A Meta-Analysis

Kim MR, Shin JS, Lee J, et al.

Spine (2024)

62% Cost Ratio vs. Surgery
3,412 subjects Total Participants

Korean medicine non-surgical treatment is a cost-effective treatment alternative for cervical disc herniation.

View Source 2024
Meta-Analysis Neck Pain

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Korean Medicine Non-Surgical Treatment for Cervical Disc Herniation: A Meta-Analysis

Kim MR, Shin JS, Lee J, et al. Spine (2024)
62% Cost Ratio vs. Surgery
3,412 subjects Total Participants

Summary

Nine studies comparing the cost-effectiveness of Korean medicine non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment for cervical disc herniation were meta-analyzed. The cost per QALY of Korean medicine non-surgical treatment was only 62% of surgical treatment, with significantly lower complication rates.

Key Conclusion

Korean medicine non-surgical treatment is a cost-effective treatment alternative for cervical disc herniation.

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