Motor dysfunction in stroke of subacute stage treated with acupuncture:multi-central randomized controlled study

Objective To verify the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on motor dysfunction in ischemic stroke of subacute stage.Methods The multi-central randomized controlled trial was adopted.One hundred and twenty-six cases of ischemic stroke of subacute stage were randomized into an acupuncture group(61 cases)and a conventional treatment group(65cases).The basic treatment of western internal medicine and rehabilitation training were applied to the patients of the two groups.In the acupuncture group,acupuncture was supplemented at the body points located on the extensor of the upper limbs and the flexor of the lower limbs.In combination,scalp acupuncture was applied to NS5,MS6and MS6on the affected side.The treatment was given 5times a week and totally 8weeks were required.The follow-up observation lasted for 3months.The scores in Fugl-Meyer scale and NIHSS scale and Barthel index were compared between the two groups before treatment,in 4and 8weeks of treatment and the 3-month follow-up observation after treatment separately.Results In 4and 8weeks of treatment and the followup observation,Fugl-Meyer scale score was improved obviously in the patients of the two groups(all P0.01). In 8weeks of treatment and the follow-up observation,Fugl-Meyer scale score in the acupuncture groupwas improved much apparently as compared with that in the conventional treatment group [68.0(43.0,86.5)vs 52.5(30.3,77.0),77.0(49.5,89.0)vs 63.0(33.0,84.0),both P0.05].Except that NIHSS scale score was not reduced apparently in 4weeks of treatment in the conventional treatment group(P0.05),the results of NIHSS scale at the other time points were all decreased obviously as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups(all P0.01).In 8weeks of treatment and the follow-up observation,the results in the acupuncture group were reduced much apparently as compared with those in the conventional treatment group [5.0(3.0,8.0)vs 7.0(3.0,13.8),4.0(1.5,7.0)vs 6.0(2.0,11.7),both P0.05].In 8weeks of treatment and the follow-up observation,Barthel index was improved obviously as compared with that before treatment in the patients of the two groups(all P0.05).The improvement in the acupuncture group was much more significant as compared with the conventional treatment group [75.0(60.0,87.5)vs 65.0(36.3,87.5),P0.05]. Conclusion Based on the conventional treatment,Acupuncture achieves the satisfactory clinical efficacy on motor dysfunction in ischemic stroke of subacute stage.