Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation (한방재활의학과학회지)

The society of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation (한방재활의학과학회)
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Development and Clinical Application of Clinical Pathway for Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Case Collection Study

근막통증증후군 한의표준임상경로 개발과 임상 적용: 사례 수집 연구

  • Yoonhee Kim (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Seojae Jeon (Korea Institute of Integrative Medicine) ;
  • Seungkwan Choi (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Hyeonjun Woo (Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Semyung University) ;
  • Jungho Jo (Department of Korean Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Hyunwook Shin (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Woenhyung Lee (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Hyowon Jin (Department of Korean Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Wonbae Ha (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Jin-Hyun Lee (Institute for Integrative Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary's Hospital) ;
  • Dong-Chan Jo (Gagyeong Korean Medicine Clinic) ;
  • Bong-Jin Shin (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Eui-Hyoung Hwang (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Youn-Seok Ko (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, College of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University) ;
  • Junghan Lee (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University)
  • 김윤희 (원광대학교 한의과대학 한방재활의학교실) ;
  • 전서재 (대한통합의료연구원) ;
  • 최승관 (원광대학교 한의과대학 한방재활의학교실) ;
  • 우현준 (세명대학교 한의과대학 한방재활의학교실) ;
  • 조정호 (원광대학교 한의과대학 한방내과학교실) ;
  • 신현욱 (원광대학교 한의과대학 한방재활의학교실) ;
  • 이원형 (원광대학교 한의과대학 한방재활의학교실) ;
  • 진효원 (원광대학교 한의과대학 한방내과학교실) ;
  • 하원배 (원광대학교 한의과대학 한방재활의학교실) ;
  • 이진현 (가톨릭관동대학교 국제성모병원 한의과) ;
  • 조동찬 (가경한의원) ;
  • 신봉진 (부산대학교 한방병원 한방재활의학과) ;
  • 황의형 (부산대학교 한방병원 한방재활의학과) ;
  • 고연석 (우석대학교 한의과대학 한방재활의학교실) ;
  • 이정한 (원광대학교 한의과대학 한방재활의학교실)
  • Received : 2025.09.17
  • Accepted : 2025.10.11
  • Published : 2025.10.31
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Abstract

Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical applicability of a multi-center clinical trial protocol developed for myofascial pain syndrome by implementing it in clinical practice, with a focus on promoting standardization and enhancing treatment efficiency. Methods A multi-center case collection study was conducted, involving a total of 60 adult patients aged 19 to 70 years diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome. Clinical applicability of the Korean medicine clinical pathway was evaluated through patient performance, patient importance, and staff performance, while changes in patient pain levels were analyzed to verify its effectiveness. Results Overall performance with the clinical pathway was high, with particularly favorable evaluations for herbal medicine treatment and acupotomy. Perceived importance was also reported to be high, especially for chuna therapy and acupotomy. Importance-performance analysis indicated that a reallocation of resources from herbal medicine treatment toward physiotherapy, acting (cupping & moxibustion) was required. Pain reduction showed a mean difference of 3.68. Staff performance was also reported to be generally high. Conclusions The clinical pathway for myofascial pain syndrome was found to be effective in reducing patient pain, with high levels of importance and performance, indicating its applicability in clinical practice. To further validate these findings, larger-scale studies applying standardized treatments across broader age groups and ensuring clearer survey procedures are required.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: RS-2023-KH142004).

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