• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.13-28
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the use of Korean and English terminology of acupotomy therapy among Korean Researchers. Methods: The search was conducted on eight medical journals (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, OASIS, KISS, IMR, NDSL, RISS), Google Scholar and 8 Korean medine journals. The definitions of acupotomy therapy, Korean and English terminology were analyzed in the studies that met the criteria. Results: A total of 60 studies were finally included in the analysis. In Korean terminology, Chim-Do was the most used with 37 studies, Do-Chim with 23 (including duplicates). In English termology, 46 studies were used acupotomy and 10 studies were used miniscalpel acupuncture. Conclusions: As a result of analyzing the terminology use of acupotomy therapy studies in Korea, it was confirmed that Korean and English terminology are different according to the study. It will be necessary to discuss the standardization of terminology.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.35-43
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this review is to overview and evaluate the current state of the usage of acupotomy. Methods : Eight electronic databases(Science direct, Pubmed, five Korean databases, CKNI) were searched for relevant articles and data from January 1999 to May 2014. Results : Thirty-nine articles were included. Acupotomy were used in musculoskeletal diseases(n=34) and other diseases(n=5). Among musculoskeletal diseases, lumbar spine(n=12) neck(n=5) and shoulder(n=3) diseases were mostly often used. Most studies(n=21) had small sample size(under 10 people) and combined with other therapies(acupuncture, herbal medicine, physical therapy, etc.). Conclusion : Acupotomy appears to be effective and useful for musculoskeletal diseases and some other diseases. But there were a few clinical studies for acupotomy and had many limitations to judge its effectiveness. Further modified studies are required.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.120-127
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• 2012

This study reports the effect of acupotomy for patients diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis(LSS). We treated three patients diagnosed with LSS using acupotomy. We measured the Numerical Rating Scale(NRS), Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) scores and Odom's criteria before and after treatment to assess improvements in symptoms and functions. In all patients, NRS, ODI scores and Odom's criteria were improved. We found a beneficial effect with acupotomy for three patients diagnosed with LSS. Thus, these data suggest LSS may be treated successfully with acupotomy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2024

This study evaluated a case of trigeminal nerve stimulation during acupotomy at a site 5 pun left of GV16. The study participant was a 52-year-old male suffering from upper neck pain and numbness, which was managed by acupotomy at a site 5 pun left of GV16. During acupotomy, the patient experienced unexpected numbness and stiffness of the left zygomatic bone. This area corresponds to the distribution of the maxillary nerve, which is the second branch of the trigeminal nerve. After approximately one month, symptoms of numbness and stiffness disappeared without rendering medical treatment. These side effects are presumed to be associated with the trigeminocervical complex and stimulation of the trigeminal nucleus within the spinal cord. Thus, during the acupotomy of the upper neck, especially at GV16, the needles should be inserted slowly, and the patient's response should also be monitored.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.85-97
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• 2010

Objectives : The study on Acupotomy therapy has recently become a popular academic field as proven to be an great alternative to the limitation of Western medical treatment. However, there has been little study examining acupotomy therapy on treating HIVD. Thus, this study aims to investigate the sense of improvement and satisfaction from the HIVD patients treated with acupotomy therapy. Methods : A total of 63 subjects that consists of HIVD patients were participated in this study. The experimental group(33subjects) was treated with acupotomy therapy and acupuncture, and the control group (30subjects) was treated with acupuncture. All the subjects were asked to answer VAS(visual analogue scale) and ODI(Oswestry disability index) before and after the treatment. Results : The results of the VAS and ODI of comparison analysis between two groups, show that the improvement of HIVD in acupotomy and acupuncture treatment group is more effective than that in acupuncture treatment group

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.177-180
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• 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to examine whether the effects of acupotomy therapy were beneficial for the treatment of protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc. Methods: The number of patients (n = 80) were equally assigned into treatment group and control group. Treatment group was given acupotomy therapy twice a week, and control group was given acupuncture 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. The beneficial effect and changes in score of the Japan Orthopedic Association (JOA) for low back pain were observed. Results: Among 40 cases in the treatment group, there were 25 (62.5%) with an excellent effect, 13 (32.5%) with good effect, 1 (2.5%) with a medium effect and 1 (2.5%) with poor effect, with the total experiencing an excellent/good effect of 95.0%. Among 40 cases in the control group, there were 11 (27.5%) with an excellent effect, 17 (42.5%) with good effect, 10 (25.0%) with a medium effect, and 2 (5.0%) with poor effect, with an excellent/good rate of 70.0%. The result of the rank sum test showed Z = -4.923, p < 0.05 in the comparison, indicating a significantly better outcome following acupotomy compared with acupuncture. JOA scores increased in both groups after treatment (p < 0.05), which was more significant in the acupotomy treatment group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Acupotomy therapy has a beneficial effect on protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2011

Objectives : The objective of this case report was to observe the effect of musculoskeletal ultrasound-guided acupotomy therapy on posterior headache caused by traffic accident. Methods : Musculoskeletal ultrasound-guided acupotomy therapy was performed to two patients whose brain MRI or CT results were normal, but posterior headache did not improve with general eastern medical treatment. Results : One patient's VAS(visual analogue scale) of posterior headache was decreased for the first time after ultrasound-guided acupotomy therapy, and steadily reduced. The other patient's VAS was also decreased for the first time after musculoskeletal ultrasound-guided acupotomy therapy. Two patient's Korean HIT-6(Korean headache impact test-6) scores were decreased after one month. Conclusions : If general eastern medical treatment had little effect on traffic accident induced posterior headache, musculoskeletal ultrasound-guided acupotomy therapy can be applied.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.167-176
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of acupotomy in patients with frozen shoulder. Methods : From January 1st, 2011 to March 31st, 2012, five patients who were diagnosed as frozen shoulder and admitted to Daejeon Oriental Hospital. We have treated frozen shoulder with acupotomy combined with oriental medical treatments. Then the patients were asked Numeric rating scale(NRS) and neck disability index(NDI) before and after acupotomy, and global assesment after acupotomy. Results : There were significant decreased NRS and NDI in this study. ROM, global assesment also significantly imporved in this study. Conclusions : In this study, acupotomy have an effect on frozen shoulder.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.39-54
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• 2017

Objectives This study aimed to search the Chinese literature on acupotomy for lumbar disc herniation and to analyze their methodologies. Methods Using 4 Chinese databases (CBM [www.sinomed.ac.cn], CNKI [www.cnki.net], WANFANG [www.wanfangdata.com], and WEIPU [www.cqvip.com]), we searched for clinical trials conducted in China over the past 10 years on acupotomy for lumbar disc herniation. The search terms used were "(腰椎椎間板脫出症 or 椎間板脫出症 or 椎間板脫出) and (针刀or 针刀松解术)" and we selected only meta-analyses that were published before December 2016. From among these meta-analyses, we excluded duplicates and selected the remaining 36 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for our final analysis. Results The largest numbers of acupotomy papers were published in 2008 and 2013 (8 papers each). The average number of subjects was 120; the most common treatment method used for the control group was standard acupuncture (in 11 papers), and the most common concurrent treatment in the treatment group was massage (in 10 papers). The most common site of needle insertion was between the spinous processes, or at less than 0.5 cm on either side of the spinous processes (in 24 papers). The most common site of adhesion lysis was at the transverse process (in 24 papers). Two studies were blinded, and the mean Jadad score was 1.17. Conclusions A large number of RCTs on the use of acupotomy for lumbar disc herniation are conducted every year in China, and the procedure has been shown to be very effective, with few adverse effects. However, the average quality of the studies was not very high. Based on our study, we expect several high-quality clinical trials on acupotomy to be conducted in Korea in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.227-232
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to statistically analyze the treatment effect and patient satisfaction of traditional Korean medicine, including acupotomy treatment of cervical herniated intervertebral disc. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 22 patients who received traditional Korean medicine including acupotomy treatment amongst all patients diagnosed with cervical herniated intervertebral discs at the Korean Medicine hospital in Daejeon, Korean, from January 01, 2020 to April 30, 2021. The clinical data from patient medical records were statistically analyzed. Results: The Numeric Rating Scale, the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions, and the European Quality of Life Visual Analogue Scale questionnaire scores were each compared before and after traditional Korean medicine treatment, including acupotomy, showed significantly improved scores after treatment (p < 0.001). Out of a total of 22 patients, 11 rated the treatment "very satisfactory" (50%), 5 "satisfactory" (22.7%), 5 "indifferent" (22.7%), 1 "unsatisfactory" (4.5%), and 0 "very unsatisfactory" (0%). Of the total 22 patients, 17 patients (77.3%) were willing to have further treatment, and 5 patients (22.7%) were not willing. Conclusion: Traditional Korean medicine treatment including acupotomy was an effective treatment for cervical herniated intervertebral discs. To determine the effect of an individual application (e.g., acupotomy) of traditional Korean medicine treatment for cervical herniated intervertebral disc, a prospective, controlled study is needed.