EFFECT OF 14 POINTS ACUPRESSURE ON UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITY MUSCLE STRENGTH LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH NON-HEMORRHAGIC STROKE

Background: Acupressure is considered as one form of holistic therapies that can improve tissue perfusion to improve motor function in patients with stroke. Objective: To analyze the effect of 14 points acupressure on upper and lower extremity muscle strength in patients with non-hemorrhagic stroke patients. Methods:  This was a quasy experimental study with pretest posttest control group design. Paired comparative analytic design was also used. Thirty-eight participants were selected, which 19 participants assigned in the experiment and control group. The Medical Research Council (MRC) scale was used to measure the lower and upper muscle strengths. Results: There was a significant difference between the improvement of the upper muscle strength in the experimental group and the control group at day 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (p = 0.010, p = 0.000, p = 0.000, p = 0.000, p = 0.000); and there was a significant difference between the improvement of the lower extremity muscle strength in the experimental group and the control group at day 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (p=0.023, p=0.000, p=0.000, p=0.000, p=0.000). Conclusion: The 14 points acupressure is effective in increasing upper and lower extremity muscle strength in patients with non-hemorrhagic stroke.