[Effect of Electroacupuncture Intervention on Rehabilitation of Upper Limb Motor Function in Patients with Ischemic...

To observe the effect of electro-elongated needle intervention on rehabilitation of upper limb motor function in patients with ischemic stroke.

A total of 100 ischemic stroke patients were equally and randomly divided into manual acupuncture group and electro-elongated needle group (n=50 cases/group). For patients of the manual acupuncture group, filiform needles were respectively inserted into Jianyu (LI 15), Jiquan (HT 1), Shousanli (LI 10), Neiguan (PC 6) and Hegu (LI 4) on the affected side, manipulated with lifting-thrusting reinforcing or reducing method for 40 min, once daily for two weeks except the weekends, and for those of the electro-elongated needle group, elongated needles were repeatedly penetrated from LI 15 to Binao (LI 14), and from LI 10 to Waiguan (TE 5) on the affected side, followed by electrical stimulation for 40 min, once daily for two weeks except weekends. The therapeutic effect of manual acupuncture and electro-elongated needle for upper extremity rehabilitation was assessed according to the modified upper-extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) separately. The surface electromyogram (sEMG) of the deltoid muscle was recorded by using a Megawin Surface Electrogram System and the root mean square (RMS) of the amplitude of sEMG was used to evaluate the functional state of the deltoid muscle.

After the treatment, the score of FMA and WMFT in both manual acupuncture and electro-elongated needle groups were significantly increased compared with pre-treatment in the same one group (P<0.01), suggesting an improvement of the motor function of the upper limbs, but RMS ratios of the amplitude of sEMG were evidently decreased in both groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), suggesting a relief of the abnormal muscular tension. The therapeutic effects of the electro-elongated needle were obviously superior to those of manual acupuncture in up-regulating FMA and WMFT scores and down-regulating RMS ratio (P<0.01).

Electro-elongated needle therapy can effectively improve the motor function of upper limb in ischemic stroke patients and has a better effect in comparison with simple manual acupuncture.