Objective: To compare the clinical curative effect of muscle tension staged acupuncture and conventional acupuncture in the treatment of stroke hemiplegia.
Methods: Sixty-two patients with stroke hemiplegia were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 31 cases in each one. In the observation group, the muscle tension staged acupuncture was given, the six stages of Brunnstrom were classified as relaxation period and spasmodic period. The Xingnao Kaiqiao (consciousness-restoring resuscitation) combined with the hand and foot yangming meridian acupuncture were applied at Shuigou (GV 26), Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli (LI 10), Hegu (LI 4), Liangqiu (ST 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Jiexi (ST 41) during relaxation period; mainly by hand and foot shaoyang meridian and taiyang meridian, the acupoints were Jianliao (TE 14), Tianjing (TE 10), Waiguan (TE 5), Yangchi (TE 4), Houxi (SI 3), Huantiao (GB 30), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Chengshan (BL 57), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Shenmai (BL 62), Qiuxu (GB 40) during spasmodic period. In the control group, referring to SHI Xuemin's Acupuncture and Moxibustion, mainly by hand jueyin meridian, the governor vessel and foot taiying meridian, phasing was not considered in the acupuncture treatment plan. Both groups were treated one time a day for 4 weeks. The neurological deficit scores were observed before and after treatment of the two groups and the efficacy was evaluated.
Results: There was one case dropped in each group. After treatment, the neurological deficit scores of the two groups was lower than those before treatment (both P<0.05), and the observation group was lower than the control group (P<0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate was 66.7% (20/30) in the observation group, which was higher than 36.7% (11/30) in the control group, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The muscle tension staged acupuncture is better than the conventional acupuncture for the treatment of stroke hemiplegia.
Keywords: acupuncture therapy; hemiplegia; muscle tension; staged acupuncture; stroke.