Effects of dry needling plus exercise therapy on post-stroke spasticity and motor function: A case report

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Post-stroke spasticity management often requires multimodal approaches.
• Dry needling (DN) is an emerging technique explored for neurological conditions.
• This case study investigates DN combined with exercise therapy (ET) for wrist flexor spasticity.

Observation:

• A 45-year-old male patient with an 8-year history of stroke presented with wrist flexor spasticity.
• Outcome measures included the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS), Hmax/Mmax ratio, H-reflex latency, ARAT, FMA, and range of motion (ROM).
• Assessments were conducted pre-treatment (T1), post-treatment (T2), and at a 3-week follow-up (T3).

Findings:

• The MMAS score improved from 3 to 2 post-treatment (T2).
• The Hmax/Mmax ratio decreased, and H-reflex latency increased by follow-up (T3).
• Significant improvements in active and passive wrist range of motion were observed post-treatment (T2).

Implications:

• Four sessions of DN plus ET demonstrated potential in reducing spasticity and enhancing ROM.
• This combined approach may offer a viable option for managing post-stroke wrist spasticity.
• Further research is warranted to explore functional outcome improvements.