Therapeutic Observation of Acupuncture at Waiguan (TE5) and Zhigou (TE6) for Post-stroke Hand Spasm / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Waiguan (TE5) and Zhigou (TE6) in treating post-stroke hand spasm.MethodSixty patients with post-stroke hand spasm graded≥Ⅰand≤Ⅲby the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) were randomized into a treatment group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at Waiguan and Zhigou plus rehabilitation training, while the control group was by dry rehabilitation training alone. The acupuncture and rehabilitation were performed once a day, 5 sessions a week, totally for 3 months. The change of hand spasm degree was observed by using MAS; the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) was adopted to observe the change of hand function; the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) was used to observe the change of the activities of daily living (ADL).ResultAfter treatment, there was a significant difference in comparing the MAS score between the two groups (P<0.05); there was a significant difference in comparing the FMA score between the two groups after treatment (P<0.05); after intervention, there was a significant difference in comparing the MBI score between the two groups (P<0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture at Waiguan and Zhigou can significantly improve the hand spasm sate after stroke; acupuncture plus rehabilitation can substantially improve the hand function and ADL of the patients, and can produce a more significant efficacy compared to dry rehabilitation training.