Confirmed Effect of 'Hanbang Integrated Treatment' on Degenerative Shoulder Arthritis

Jasaeng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Survey of 186 Patients
Improvement in All Indicators Including Pain, Functional Disability, and Quality of Life

Medical staff at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine are performing acupuncture treatment on a patient with degenerative shoulder arthritis. [Photo by Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwanju] A study has shown that traditional Korean medicine treatment demonstrates objective effectiveness in treating 'degenerative shoulder arthritis (shoulder arthritis),' a common shoulder condition among the elderly.

The research team led by Director Choi Yoon-young of Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute (Director of Changwon Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital) announced on the 26th that they confirmed the objective effects and clinical efficacy of non-surgical integrated traditional Korean medicine treatment for degenerative shoulder arthritis. The research paper was published in the latest issue of the SCI(E)-level international journal Medicine (IF=1.817).

The team conducted a study on 186 hospitalized patients diagnosed with degenerative shoulder arthritis who received integrated traditional Korean medicine treatment for more than a week at seven Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospitals nationwide from January 2015 to July 2020.

Changes in pain (NRS), functional impairment (SPADI), and quality of life (EQ-5D) indicators in patients with degenerative shoulder arthritis who received integrated Korean medicine treatment. [Data from Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital]

As a result, after integrated traditional Korean medicine treatment consisting of Chuna manual therapy, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine prescriptions, patients showed significant improvement in pain and functional impairment, along with enhanced quality of life. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain decreased from a moderate pain level of 6.09 before treatment to a mild level of 4.02. The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) improved from a severe level (55.00) to a lower level (35.42). The quality of life scale (EQ-5D) also increased from 0.61 before treatment to 0.74 after treatment.

Furthermore, long-term follow-up conducted through online and telephone surveys from September to October last year showed continued improvement. The pain NRS further improved to 3.04, and SPADI showed remarkable functional improvement, decreasing to 18.95, about three times lower than at the time of hospitalization. The EQ-5D rose to 0.83, maintaining a high quality of life. In the treatment satisfaction survey (PGIC) conducted simultaneously, 86.4% of respondents reported their current shoulder health status as 'improved' or better.

The research team interpreted that integrated traditional Korean medicine treatment clinically confirmed both short- and long-term effectiveness in improving pain, function, and quality of life in patients with degenerative shoulder arthritis. Director Choi Yoon-young stated, "This study is significant as it objectively demonstrates the efficacy of integrated traditional Korean medicine treatment for degenerative shoulder arthritis," adding, "It is expected to contribute to future researchers establishing guidelines in the field of conservative treatment methods for degenerative shoulder arthritis."

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