Clinical study of exercise-based acupuncture for motor dysfunction after ischemic stroke

To observe the clinical efficacy of exercise-based acupuncture in treating ischemic stroke and its effects in improving the patient’s motor function and daily living ability.

A total of 106 patients with motor dysfunction due to cerebral infarction were randomized into a trial group and a control group, each consisting of 53 cases. Both groups received conventional rehabilitation; in addition, the control group was given point-toward-point acupuncture at scalp points, and the trial group was offered exercise-based acupuncture, 3 times weekly for 4 consecutive weeks. Before treatment, after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, and at the 2-month follow-up, the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) scale, Lovett scale for muscle strength, modified Ashworth scale (MAS), and activities of daily living (ADL) scale were used to assess the patient’s motor function, muscle strength, muscle tension, and daily living ability.

After treatment, both groups gained improvements in motor function and daily living ability; after 4-week treatment and at the 2-month follow-up, the trial group had higher FMA and ADL scores than the control group (P<0.05). The MAS score decreased after treatment in both groups; after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment and at the 2-month follow-up, the MAS score was lower in the trial group than in the control group (P<0.05). After the intervention, the Lovett score increased in both groups; after 4 weeks of treatment, the Lovett score was higher in the trial group than in the control group (P<0.05).

Based on routine rehabilitation, exercise-based acupuncture and scalp point-toward-point acupuncture both can improve the motor function and daily living ability in ischemic stroke patients; exercise-based acupuncture performs better than scalp point-toward-point acupuncture.