Since 2005, there have been no systematic reviews on the effects of multiple manual therapies, including muscle energy technique (MET), on the hamstrings. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to provide clinical evidence for the effectiveness of the MET on hamstring flexibility. We queried 10 electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, KISS, NDSL, KMBASE, KISTI, RISS, Dbpia, and OASIS) up to the end of March 2022. This study only included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of MET for the hamstring. The literature was organized using Endnote. Literature screening and data extraction were conducted by two researchers independently. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 1.0, and the meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. In total, 949 patients from 19 RCTs were selected according to the inclusion criteria. During active knee extension tests, the efficacy between MET and other manipulations did not significantly differ. For sit and reach tests, MET groups had higher flexibility compared to stretching (MD = 1.69, 95% CI: 0.66 to 2.73, p = 0.001) and no treatment (MD = 2.02, 95% CI: 0.70 to 3.33, p = 0.003) groups. No significant differences were observed in the occurrence of adverse reactions. Overall, we found that MET is more efficacious for improving hamstring flexibility compared to stretching and having no treatment during sit and reach tests because it combines isometric contraction with stretching. Owing to clinical heterogeneity, uncertain risk of bias, and the small number of included studies, further high-quality studies should assess the effectiveness of MET.

Background: This study aimed to summarize the current status of research on ultrasound-guided acupuncture and dry-needling treatment and the specific treatment methods applied to patients. Methods: A scoping review was conducted, surveying three English databases (PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) for studies published up to May 2024. All studies related to ultrasound-guided acupuncture and dry-needling treatment were considered. Literature was selected using selection and exclusion criteria, and extracted and organized using EndNote. Results: A total of 107 eligible studies were included. Among the 107 studies, non-comparative studies accounted for the largest proportion (n = 47, 43.9%), followed by randomized controlled trials (RCTs; n = 41, 38.3%). Diseases of the musculoskeletal system or connective tissue (15 diseases of the musculoskeletal system or connective tissue) accounted for most (n = 48, 55.8%) of the 86 diseases studied, followed by symptoms, signs, or clinical conditions not otherwise classified (n = 17, 19.8%). Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided acupuncture and dry-needling have been actively studied and applied for the treatment of various diseases. However, higher-quality studies are needed for further applications in research and clinical practice.

Background: Acupoint CV23 is one of the most commonly used acupoints for the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia and tongue pain. However, care must be taken during the procedure to consider the position of glands and blood vessels in the subcutaneous space of the acupoint. Needling depths to the geniohyoid muscle reportedly range from 0.4 to 3.3 cm. Using ultrasound imaging, we aimed to observe the anatomical characteristics around acupoint CV23 to derive a safe needling depth.Methods: Ultrasound images of acupoint CV23 accessed from the Standard Ultrasound Image of Acupoint database were retrospectively analyzed for 30 participants aged in their 20s and 30s (15 male, 15 female), and the depth from the skin to the geniohyoid muscle was measured. Correlations between the needling depth and anthropometric factors (such as neck circumference) were analyzed.Results: The average needling depth to the geniohyoid muscle was 1.59 ± 0.49 cm (male; 1.43 ± 0.52 cm, female, 1.75 ± 0.42 cm, p = 0.03). The geniohyoid muscle, anterior digastric muscles, and genioglossus muscle were observed in the subcutaneous area of acupoint CV23, and a risk of sublingual gland damage needs to be considered for oblique insertion of the acupuncture needle. No statistically significant correlations between the needling depth and anthropometric factors were observed.Conclusion: Acupoint CV23 has a relatively shallow needling depth, and considering the presence of blood vessels and glands in the sublingual space, visualizing the surrounding anatomical structures using ultrasound was helpful to ensure safe needling practice.

Objectives: Underpinned by the context of a Korean traditional medicine cohort study on healthy aging, this research primarily aims to guide the selection of Clinical Outcome Assessments (COAs) for elderly healthy aging patient registry research, offering insights into the selection process; and secondly, to streamline the resource-intensive process of obtaining permissions for validated COAs, benefiting future traditional Korean medicine clinical researchers.Methods : In this study, we identified outcomes through a review of previous studies, followed by a process involving expert consultations to select the final outcomes. Subsequently, for the selected outcomes that were Clinical Outcome Assessments (COAs) developed tools, we searched in commercial databases to confirm the availability of Korean versions and the necessity of obtaining permissions. Finally, we obtained permissions for their utilization and, when needed, acquired the original instrument questionnaire through payment.Results: Through a literature review of existing observational studies, a total of 57 outcomes were selected, with 19 of them identified as COA instruments. Upon verifying usage permissions for these 19 instruments, it was found that 17 required author-specific permissions, and among these, 2 needed a purchase as they were commercially available.Conclusion: This study provides a detailed overview of outcome selection and permission acquisition for elderly patient registry research. It underscores the importance of Clinical Outcome Assessment (COA) tools and the rigorous approval process, aiming to enhance research reliability. Continuous verification of COA information is essential, and future research should explore Core Outcome Set (COS) development through consensus-building approaches like Delphi studies.

Myoungeun Kim, K.M.D., Hyeonjun Woo, K.M.D., Seojae Jeon, Ph.D., Hyowon Jin, K.M.D., Junghan Lee, K.M.D., Wonbae Ha, K.M.D.. J Korean Med Rehabi 2025;35:117-32. https://doi.org/10.18325/jkmr.2025.35.2.117

Gunhee Lee, K.M.D., Seungkwan Choi, K.M.D., Jungho Jo, K.M.D., Hyowon Jin, K.M.D., Seojae Jeon, Ph.D., Junghan Lee, K.M.D., Wonbae Ha, K.M.D.. J Korean Med Rehabi 2024;34:107-17. https://doi.org/10.18325/jkmr.2024.34.3.107