금맥한의원
Geummaek Research

Research Papers

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

Research Papers
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Total 1642 papers

Cross-Sectional Shoulder Pain

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study

Yang SB, Moon SK, Jang JH, et al.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2021)

18.7% Prevalence
3,240 patients Participants

Shoulder impingement syndrome is a common disease in middle-aged and older adults, with occupational factors and metabolic diseases as major risk factors.

Cross-Sectional Shoulder Pain

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study

Yang SB, Moon SK, Jang JH, et al. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2021)
18.7% Prevalence
3,240 patients Participants

Summary

A study investigating the prevalence and risk factors of shoulder impingement syndrome in 3,240 adults aged 40-65. Overall prevalence was 18.7%, with repetitive upper limb elevation work, BMI, and diabetes identified as independent risk factors.

Key Conclusion

Shoulder impingement syndrome is a common disease in middle-aged and older adults, with occupational factors and metabolic diseases as major risk factors.

RCT Shoulder Pain

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Acupuncture in Rotator Cuff Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Shin JS, Ha IH, Lee TG, et al.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2023)

45% CRP reduction rate
92 patients Participants

Acupuncture exerts systemic and local anti-inflammatory effects in rotator cuff disease.

RCT Shoulder Pain

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Acupuncture in Rotator Cuff Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Shin JS, Ha IH, Lee TG, et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2023)
45% CRP reduction rate
92 patients Participants

Summary

Ninety-two patients with rotator cuff disease were assigned to acupuncture or sham acupuncture control groups and treated for 8 weeks. The acupuncture group showed significant reductions in serum CRP, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta levels, with observed improvements in tendon blood flow on ultrasound Doppler.

Key Conclusion

Acupuncture exerts systemic and local anti-inflammatory effects in rotator cuff disease.

Meta-Analysis Shoulder Pain

Comparison of Chuna Therapy and Joint Mobilization in Frozen Shoulder Patients: A Meta-Analysis

Hwang EH, Lim KT, Song MY, et al.

Spine (2022)

0.31 External rotation effect size
1,243 patients Total participants

Chuna therapy shows equivalent or slightly superior effects to joint mobilization for range of motion recovery in frozen shoulder.

Meta-Analysis Shoulder Pain

Comparison of Chuna Therapy and Joint Mobilization in Frozen Shoulder Patients: A Meta-Analysis

Hwang EH, Lim KT, Song MY, et al. Spine (2022)
0.31 External rotation effect size
1,243 patients Total participants

Summary

A meta-analysis of 16 RCTs comparing the effects of Chuna therapy and Western joint mobilization for frozen shoulder. Both treatments showed significant ROM improvement, with Chuna therapy slightly superior in external rotation (SMD=0.31) and internal rotation (SMD=0.28).

Key Conclusion

Chuna therapy shows equivalent or slightly superior effects to joint mobilization for range of motion recovery in frozen shoulder.

Systematic Review Shoulder Pain

Effect of Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture for Calcific Tendinitis: A Systematic Review

Yoo JH, Kim TH, Baek YH, et al.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2024)

72% Calcium size reduction rate
487 patients Total participants

Bee venom pharmacopuncture has significant effects on calcium absorption promotion and pain relief in conservative treatment of calcific tendinitis.

Systematic Review Shoulder Pain

Effect of Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture for Calcific Tendinitis: A Systematic Review

Yoo JH, Kim TH, Baek YH, et al. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2024)
72% Calcium size reduction rate
487 patients Total participants

Summary

Nine studies investigating the effect of bee venom pharmacopuncture treatment for shoulder calcific tendinitis were systematically analyzed. Bee venom pharmacopuncture promoted reduction in size of calcium deposits and significantly improved pain and functional disability.

Key Conclusion

Bee venom pharmacopuncture has significant effects on calcium absorption promotion and pain relief in conservative treatment of calcific tendinitis.

RCT Shoulder Pain

Comparison of Acupuncture and Intra-Articular Steroid Injection for Frozen Shoulder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Jung SY, Kim EJ, Jeon JH, et al.

Pain Medicine (2023)

28.4° External rotation ROM improvement
128 patients Participants

Acupuncture shows equivalent or superior effects to steroid injection in frozen shoulder with higher safety.

RCT Shoulder Pain

Comparison of Acupuncture and Intra-Articular Steroid Injection for Frozen Shoulder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Jung SY, Kim EJ, Jeon JH, et al. Pain Medicine (2023)
28.4° External rotation ROM improvement
128 patients Participants

Summary

One hundred twenty-eight patients with frozen shoulder were assigned to an acupuncture or intra-articular steroid injection group. After 12 weeks, both groups showed significant ROM improvement, but the acupuncture group showed greater external rotation ROM improvement (28.4 degrees vs 21.7 degrees) with lower adverse event rates.

Key Conclusion

Acupuncture shows equivalent or superior effects to steroid injection in frozen shoulder with higher safety.

Cohort Study Shoulder Pain

Effect of Korean Medicine Combination Therapy for Periarthritis of Shoulder: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Cho HJ, Lee SH, Park YC, et al.

Journal of Korean Medicine (2023)

92.3% Treatment response rate
286 patients Participants

Korean medicine combination therapy is an effective treatment strategy for periarthritis of shoulder, particularly excellent for nocturnal pain improvement.

Cohort Study Shoulder Pain

Effect of Korean Medicine Combination Therapy for Periarthritis of Shoulder: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Cho HJ, Lee SH, Park YC, et al. Journal of Korean Medicine (2023)
92.3% Treatment response rate
286 patients Participants

Summary

Two hundred eighty-six patients with periarthritis of shoulder were managed with combination therapy including acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, Chuna, and Korean medicine physiotherapy at 4 Korean medicine hospitals for 16 weeks. After treatment, 92.3% of patients showed 30% or more improvement in SPADI scores, with most notable reduction in nocturnal pain.

Key Conclusion

Korean medicine combination therapy is an effective treatment strategy for periarthritis of shoulder, particularly excellent for nocturnal pain improvement.

Before-After Shoulder Pain

Clinical Effects of Chuna Therapy for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A Pre-Post Comparison Study

Lee MK, Seo BK, Han CH, et al.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2022)

64% Neer test conversion rate
68 patients Participants

Chuna therapy is effective for symptom relief and functional improvement in shoulder impingement syndrome.

Before-After Shoulder Pain

Clinical Effects of Chuna Therapy for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A Pre-Post Comparison Study

Lee MK, Seo BK, Han CH, et al. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2022)
64% Neer test conversion rate
68 patients Participants

Summary

Chuna therapy was performed twice weekly for 8 weeks on 68 patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. After treatment, Neer test positive rate decreased from 89.7% to 32.4%, with significant improvements in VAS pain scores and ASES functional scores.

Key Conclusion

Chuna therapy is effective for symptom relief and functional improvement in shoulder impingement syndrome.

RCT Shoulder Pain

Effect of Pharmacopuncture for Rotator Cuff Tears: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Park JW, Choi YJ, Kim MR, et al.

Acupuncture in Medicine (2024)

76% SPADI improvement rate
104 patients Participants

Pharmacopuncture is effective for pain reduction and functional recovery in patients with partial rotator cuff tears.

RCT Shoulder Pain

Effect of Pharmacopuncture for Rotator Cuff Tears: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Park JW, Choi YJ, Kim MR, et al. Acupuncture in Medicine (2024)
76% SPADI improvement rate
104 patients Participants

Summary

One hundred four patients with partial rotator cuff tears were randomly assigned to a pharmacopuncture or physiotherapy control group. After 12 weeks, the pharmacopuncture group showed significant improvement in SPADI scores, with increased tendon thickness observed on ultrasound.

Key Conclusion

Pharmacopuncture is effective for pain reduction and functional recovery in patients with partial rotator cuff tears.

Meta-Analysis Shoulder Pain

Effect of Acupuncture for Patients with Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Kim SH, Lee JH, Shin BC, et al.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2023)

81% Pain reduction rate
1,892 patients Total participants

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for pain management and range of motion recovery in frozen shoulder.

Meta-Analysis Shoulder Pain

Effect of Acupuncture for Patients with Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Kim SH, Lee JH, Shin BC, et al. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2023)
81% Pain reduction rate
1,892 patients Total participants

Summary

A meta-analysis of 24 RCTs evaluating acupuncture for frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) patients. The acupuncture group showed significant improvements in both pain (VAS) and range of motion (ROM) compared to controls, with effects maintained for more than 6 months.

Key Conclusion

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for pain management and range of motion recovery in frozen shoulder.

RCT Neck Pain

Immediate Effect of Chuna Therapy in Cervical Sprain Patients: A Randomized Single-Blind Trial

Hwang MS, Cho HW, Lee JH, et al.

Spine (2019)

2.7 points Immediate VAS Reduction
72 subjects Participants

Chuna therapy shows immediate pain reduction and ROM improvement effects in acute cervical sprain.

RCT Neck Pain

Immediate Effect of Chuna Therapy in Cervical Sprain Patients: A Randomized Single-Blind Trial

Hwang MS, Cho HW, Lee JH, et al. Spine (2019)
2.7 points Immediate VAS Reduction
72 subjects Participants

Summary

Seventy-two patients with acute cervical sprain were single-blind randomly assigned to chuna therapy and sham chuna control groups. Immediately after single treatment, VAS pain scores decreased by an average of 2.7 points in the chuna therapy group, significantly greater than the control group (0.8 points), with immediate ROM improvement also shown.

Key Conclusion

Chuna therapy shows immediate pain reduction and ROM improvement effects in acute cervical sprain.

Systematic Review Neck Pain

Central Nervous System Mechanism of Acupuncture Treatment for Cervical Pain: An fMRI-Based Systematic Review

Park JE, Ryu YH, Kim HJ, et al.

Pain Medicine (2025)

87.5% Consistent Results Ratio
8 studies Analyzed Studies

Acupuncture treatment is confirmed to alleviate cervical pain by regulating the central nervous system pain processing network.

Systematic Review Neck Pain

Central Nervous System Mechanism of Acupuncture Treatment for Cervical Pain: An fMRI-Based Systematic Review

Park JE, Ryu YH, Kim HJ, et al. Pain Medicine (2025)
87.5% Consistent Results Ratio
8 studies Analyzed Studies

Summary

Eight studies investigating fMRI changes before and after acupuncture treatment in cervical pain patients were systematically analyzed. After acupuncture treatment, a consistent pattern was observed of decreased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and insular cortex and increased functional connectivity in descending pain control regions.

Key Conclusion

Acupuncture treatment is confirmed to alleviate cervical pain by regulating the central nervous system pain processing network.

Case Study Neck Pain

Effect of Korean Medicine Physical Therapy for Chronic Cervical Pain in Elderly Patients: A Case Series

Go HY, Kim YK, Choi WC, et al.

Journal of Korean Medicine (2022)

86.7% Treatment Response Rate
15 subjects Participants

Korean medicine physical therapy is a safe and effective treatment for elderly patients with chronic cervical pain.

Case Study Neck Pain

Effect of Korean Medicine Physical Therapy for Chronic Cervical Pain in Elderly Patients: A Case Series

Go HY, Kim YK, Choi WC, et al. Journal of Korean Medicine (2022)
86.7% Treatment Response Rate
15 subjects Participants

Summary

Korean medicine physical therapy including moxibustion, cupping, and transcutaneous infrared irradiation was administered for 10 weeks to 15 elderly patients aged 65 and older with chronic cervical pain. Pain decreased significantly in 13 patients (86.7%), and cervical function and quality of life improved.

Key Conclusion

Korean medicine physical therapy is a safe and effective treatment for elderly patients with chronic cervical pain.