Effectiveness of Korean Medical Treatments, Including Motion-Style-Acupuncture-Treatment Using Traction, on Inpatients with Low Back Disability: A Retrospective Chart Review

A Study on the Job Characteristics of Police Officers and the Status of Musculoskeletal Disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders occur frequently in industrial settings, and police officers in particular are at high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders due to the nature of their work, but research on this is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders according to the job functions of police officers. A survey was conducted, targeting active-duty police officers, and data were collected from 4268 respondents who answered all items on the questionnaire. As a control group, we used the general population dataset from the 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in Korea. The survey included general information such as gender, age, working hours, and type of work. It also investigated medical utilization, including the frequency of medical visits and hospitalizations. The assessment of musculoskeletal disorders was analyzed using pain NRS, VAS, SPADI, and ODI. The working characteristics of police officers were found to be more irregular in terms of working hours and involved a higher intensity of work activities compared with the general population. However, there was a lack of precise diagnoses and continuous treatment for these disorders. These results imply that police officers' occupational characteristics are related to musculoskeletal disorders. Considering the direct relationship between police officers' health and public safety, systematic evaluation and management of their musculoskeletal disorders are needed.

Effectiveness and safety of motion-style acupuncture treatment using traction for inpatients with acute low back pain caused by a traffic accident: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Musculoskeletal symptoms, such as neck pain and low back pain (LBP) are common after a traffic accident (TA). While motion-style acupuncture treatment (MSAT) is effective in relieving pain, MSAT using traction (T-MSAT) has rarely been studied, and evidence for its efficacy and safety is lacking. To address this gap, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of T-MSAT for pain and functional disturbances in patients with acute LBP caused by a TA.

METHODS

This two-armed, parallel, assessor blinded randomized controlled trial, conducted at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, included 100 patients with acute LBP occurring within 1 week of a TA. The participants were randomly allocated (1:1 ratio) to receive either combined T-MSAT and integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKMT) or only conventional IKMT, applied for 3 consecutive days after admission. The primary outcome was the difference between numerical rating scale (NRS) scores for LBP at baseline and after treatment completion on day 4 after admission.

RESULTS

At the primary endpoint, the difference in NRS scores for LBP between the T-MSAT and control groups was 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40-1.48). The T-MSAT group showed a significantly lower NRS score for LBP than the control group. Differences in visual analogue scale (VAS) scores between the T-MSAT and control groups were significant at baseline and discharge. The area under the curve of the VAS score showed a significant difference (-46.86 [95% CI -85.13 to -8.59]), indicating faster pain reduction in the T-MSAT group than in the control group. Recovery (30% pain reduction) was achieved more rapidly in the T-MSAT group than in the control group (log-rank test P = .005). Meanwhile, the NRS, VAS, Oswestry disability index, and quality of life scores at discharge or at the 12-week follow-up showed no significant difference. The rates of mild adverse events (AEs) were comparable between the groups. No severe AEs were reported, and none of the AEs were associated with the clinical trial.

CONCLUSIONS

T-MSAT combined with IKMT is a safe treatment that can effectively and quickly reduce initial pain in patients with LBP.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Intensive Integrative Treatment including Motion Style Acupuncture Treatment (MSAT) in Hospitalized Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: An Observational Study

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.

The Effectiveness and safety of T-MSAT on inpatients with acute low back pain caused by traffic accidents: A protocol for randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Presentation of musculoskeletal symptoms, such as pain, discomfort, or disability, caused by a traffic accident (TA) is a common occurrence. However, studies on treatment and management of sudden low back pain (LBP) caused by a TA are very scarce, while studies on the effectiveness of motion style acupuncture therapy (MSAT) used on such patients are also rare. Accordingly, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is planned to assess the effectiveness and safety of MSAT using traction (T-MSAT) for the treatment of pain and functional problems in patients with acute LBP caused by a TA.

METHODS

This study will be conducted at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine in South Korea, using a two-armed, parallel, assessor-blinded RCT design. The study population will consist of 100 participants who will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the T-MSAT+integrative Korean medicine therapy (IKMT) group or IKMT control group. The treatment will be applied continuously for 3 days after admission. The primary outcome will be the difference between the numeric rating scale (NRS) scores at admission and immediately after treatment on the fourth day of admission. Secondary outcomes will include visual analogue scale (VAS) for LBP and radiating leg pain; NRS for radiating leg pain; lumbar active range of motion; Oswestry Disability Index (ODI); Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC); the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5-K); and 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12).

DISCUSSION

This study is a RCT to assess the effectiveness and safety of T-MSAT for acute LBP caused by a TA. The findings could be used by healthcare-related policy makers and clinicians in primary care institutions, which are frequently visited by patients suffering from LBP caused by a TA.