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Published on: August 11, 2023
Meridian acupuncture plus massage for children with spastic cerebral palsy
Kunzhi Chen1, Shiju Shu1, Mei Yang1
1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital Guiyang 550003, Guizhou Province, China.
Insights
Combination therapy of meridian acupuncture and massage significantly improved motor development in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP). This approach also reduced inflammatory markers and muscle tension, enhancing overall development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) significantly impacts children's motor development and quality of life.
- Conventional rehabilitation measures offer some benefits but often require complementary therapies for optimal outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of combining meridian acupuncture and massage with routine rehabilitation for children with SCP.
- To assess the impact of this combination therapy on motor function, muscle tone, inflammatory markers, and overall development.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 113 children with SCP, comparing a research group (acupuncture + massage) with a control group (routine rehabilitation).
- Evaluations included the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale (PDMS), Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88), Ashworth Scale (AS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Gesell's Developmental Schedule (GDS).
- Changes in inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α) were also monitored.
Main Results:
- The combination therapy group showed a significantly higher total effective rate compared to the control group (P=0.018).
- Post-treatment, the research group exhibited lower levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, greater reductions in PDMS and AS scores, and more substantial improvements in GMFM-88, MBI, and GDS scores.
- Overall development was significantly better in the research group.
Conclusions:
- The combination of meridian acupuncture and massage is an effective therapeutic strategy for improving motor development in children with spastic cerebral palsy.
- This integrated approach not only enhances motor function but also positively influences inflammatory processes and overall developmental milestones.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of combination therapy of meridian acupuncture and massage on motor development in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP).
Methods:
A total of 113 children with SCP in our hospital were allocated into research group (63 cases, treated with meridian acupuncture plus massage) and control group (50 cases, treated with routine rehabilitation measures). Clinical efficacy and alterations of inflammatory factors were observed. Peabody Developmental Motor Scale (PDMS) and gross motor function measure (GMFM-88; sitting, standing, walking) were employed for the assessment of motor ability. Changes in muscle tension were monitored with the Ashworth scale (AS), and modified Barthel index (MBI) and Gesell's Developmental Schedule (GDS) were used to evaluate children's daily activities, language, fine motor skills, and adaptability. Finally, the development of children in the two groups was monitored.
Results:
The research group had higher total effective rate than the control group (P=0.018). After treatment, the levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the research group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05); the PDMS and AS scores were reduced in both groups, and the reduction was greater in research group (P<0.05); GFMF-88, Barthel and GDS scores increased in both groups, especially in the research group; children in research group were better developed than those in control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion:
Meridian acupuncture plus massage contributes to a significant improvement of motor development in children with SCP.
