Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40130203›Full record

ArticleJournal of pain research2025

Ultrasound-Guided vs Non-Guided Pharmacopuncture for Cervical Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Multi-Center Prospective Comparative Study Protocol.

Kwangho Kim, Juhwan Song, Hongmin Chu, Robin Kwon, Seongjun Park, Junhui Kwon, Hyeon Joon Hong, Youngyun Lee, Sanghyuk Kwon, Kyungho Kang and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of pain research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Kwangho KimThe Academy of Korean Medicine Clinical Anatomy, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-4561-591X
Juhwan SongThe Academy of Korean Medicine Clinical Anatomy, Seoul, Korea.
Hongmin ChuThe Academy of Korean Medicine Clinical Anatomy, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0000-0003-0171-0234
Robin KwonThe Academy of Korean Medicine Clinical Anatomy, Seoul, Korea.
Seongjun ParkThe Academy of Korean Medicine Clinical Anatomy, Seoul, Korea.
Junhui KwonThe Academy of Korean Medicine Clinical Anatomy, Seoul, Korea.
Hyeon Joon HongThe Academy of Korean Medicine Clinical Anatomy, Seoul, Korea.
Youngyun LeeThe Academy of Korean Medicine Clinical Anatomy, Seoul, Korea.
Sanghyuk KwonThe Academy of Korean Medicine Clinical Anatomy, Seoul, Korea.
Kyungho KangThe Academy of Korean Medicine Clinical Anatomy, Seoul, Korea.
Jungtae LeemResearch Center of Traditional Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.ORCID 0000-0003-3300-5556
Cheol-Hyun KimThe Academy of Korean Medicine Clinical Anatomy, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0000-0001-9533-1117

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Cervical Myofascial Pain Syndrome (CMPS) is a common musculoskeletal disorder that significantly impacts daily life due to pain and restricted movement. This study focuses on Ultrasound-Guided Pharmacopuncture(UGP) to release fascial restrictions and alleviate nerve compression. By utilizing real-time ultrasound imaging, UGP is expected to enhance treatment accuracy, reduce adverse events, and improve clinical outcomes. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of UGP compared to Non-Guided Pharmacopuncture (NGP) in patients with acute CMPS. Patients and Methods: This multi-center prospective observational comparative study evaluates the efficacy and safety of UGP versus NGP in patients with acute CMPS. A minimum of 100 patients with acute CMPS (≤7 days since symptom onset) will be recruited from two hospitals and five Korean medicine clinics. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the UGP group (receiving ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture with Hominis Placenta(HP) solution) or the NGP group (receiving non-guided pharmacopuncture with HP solution). A single treatment session will be conducted, with pre- and post-treatment assessments using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT), and Range of Motion (ROM). Additionally, a follow-up safety assessment will be conducted via telephone 24-36 hours post-treatment. Discussion and Conclusion: This study is the first to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided HP pharmacopuncture for acute CMPS in a multi-center prospective comparative study. The findings are expected to provide comprehensive evidence supporting ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture as an effective treatment for myofascial pain and may expand its clinical applications, particularly in Korean medicine clinics.

Indexed as

acupuncture therapymyofascial pain syndromeneedle guidance techniquepharmacopunctureultrasonography

Identifiers

PMID40130203
PMCPMC11930919

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.