An introduction to Chuna manual medicine in Korea: History, insurance coverage, education, and clinical research in Korean literature

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to summarize the curriculum, history, and clinical researches of Chuna in Korea and to ultimately introduce Chuna to Western medicine. Information about the history and insurance coverage of Chuna was collected from Chuna-related institutions and papers. Data on Chuna education in all 12 Korean medicine (KM) colleges in Korea were reconstructed based on previously published papers. All available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Chuna in clinical research were searched using seven Korean databases and six KM journals. As a result, during the modern Chuna era, one of the three periods of Chuna, which also include the traditional Chuna era and the suppressed Chuna era, Chuna developed considerably because of a solid Korean academic system, partial insurance coverage, and the establishment of a Chuna association in Korea. All of the KM colleges offered courses on Chuna-related subjects (CRSs); however, the total number of hours dedicated to lectures on CRSs was insufficient to master Chuna completely. Overall, 17 RCTs were reviewed. Of the 14 RCTs of Chuna in musculoskeletal diseases, six reported Chuna was more effective than a control condition, and another six RCTs proposed Chuna had the same effect as a control condition. One of these 14 RCTs made the comparison impossible because of unreported statistical difference; the last RCT reported Chuna was less effective than a control condition. In addition, three RCTs of Chuna in neurological diseases reported Chuna was superior to a control condition. In conclusion, Chuna was not included in the regular curriculum in KM colleges until the modern Chuna era; Chuna became more popular as the result of it being covered by Korean insurance carriers and after the establishment of a Chuna association. Meanwhile, the currently available evidence is insufficient to characterize the effectiveness of Chuna in musculoskeletal and neurological diseases.

Comparative Effectiveness of Chuna Manipulative Therapy for Non-Acute Lower Back Pain: A Multi-Center, Pragmatic, Randomized Controlled Trial

“…CMT is a Korean type of manipulative therapy which is used widely for managing LBP in South Korea, with high patient satisfaction [3,33]. CMT has long history and comprises a different system of theory compared to other spinal manipulative therapies [9]. Actually, the difference in history and theory does not indicate a difference in effectiveness.…”

“…CMT has high patient satisfaction and several published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have verified the effectiveness and safety of CMT. However, RCTs to date have limitations regarding study design and sufficient power to adequately evaluate CMT effects and safety [9,10]. High quality, well-designed research that aligns with practice is greatly needed to build a pragmatic evidence base for manipulative therapy.…”

Changes in attitudes toward and patterns in traditional Korean medicine among the general population in South Korea: A comparison between 2008 and 2011

“…The usage of Chuna or physical therapies was found to be less prevalent among the Korean public. In general, the public could not easily distinguish Chuna -a type of TKM therapy largely used for balancing orthopedic structure and function -from other types of manual therapies [23]. Externally, this practice has a strong similarity to chiropracty.…”

Traditional Indian medicine (TIM) and traditional Korean medicine (TKM): aconstitutional-based concept and comparison

“…Furthermore, Republic of Korean government has undertaken numerous globalization projects to enhance TKM scientific status 50 . For example, many TKM hospitals and clinics have been established in many oversea countries like Mongolia and Kazakhstan 51 . This has resulted into increased numbers of foreign patients seeking treatment based on TKM systems.…”