Available online 2024-10-31, published 2024-12-15, Korean Herb. Med. Inf. 2024;28(1)

한의임상연구를 통해 살펴본 초음파의 활용: 체계적 문헌고찰

The Use of Ultrasound through Clinical Research in Korean Medicine: A Systematic Review

Abstract
Background
Ultrasound devices are non-invasive diagnostic tools that use high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of internal body structures. Recently, with the legalization of ultrasound use by Korean Medicine doctors, its application in clinical settings has increased, particularly in acupuncture and related treatments. This systematic review aims to investigate the current utilization of ultrasound in Korean Medicine clinical studies and evaluate its potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool.

Methods
This review involved a comprehensive literature search using PubMed with the keywords "(sonography OR ultrasound) AND (acupuncture OR herb)." The search was limited to clinical trials and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the last five years.

Results
Out of 101 studies initially retrieved, 43 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 8 studies applied ultrasound during treatments such as acupotomy and embedding, while 35 studies used ultrasound to assess treatment outcomes.

Conclusion
This systematic review highlights the growing potential of ultrasound as a valuable adjunctive tool in Korean Medicine. Ultrasound not only enhances the precision and safety of acupuncture treatments but also provides objective measures to evaluate therapeutic outcomes.

Keyword: Ultrasound, systematic review, acupuncture, acutomy

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