ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on hemiplegia after stroke.Methods:A total of 102 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia who received treatment in Zhejiang Medical and Health Group from November 2018 to November 2019 were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to receive routine rehabilitation training (control group, n = 51) or routine rehabilitation training combined with electroacupuncture (study group, n = 51) for 2 weeks. Before and after 2 weeks of treatment, traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores (facial paralysis, sensory disturbance, limb numbness) and gait time-space parameters (10-m maximum walking speed, stride length, strides frequency), limb function (modified Barthel index, Fugl-Meyer Assessment score) and quality of life (Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale) were compared between the control and study groups. Results:After treatment, facial paralysis score [(2.15 ± 0.63) points vs. (1.12 ± 0.71) points, (2.14 ± 0.60) points vs. (1.65 ± 0.74) points], sensory disturbance score [(2.45 ± 0.23) points vs. (1.32 ± 0.73) points, (2.46 ± 0.25) points vs. (1.88 ± 0.63) points] and limb numbness score [(1.89 ± 0.73) points vs. (1.04 ± 0.53) points, (1.88 ± 0.67) points vs. (1.42 ± 0.48) points] in the study and control groups were significantly decreased compared with before treatment. These scores after treatment in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t = 3.691, 4.147, 3.795, all P < 0.001). After treatment, 10-m maximum walking speed [(0.34 ± 0.15) m/s vs. (0.53 ± 0.21) m/s, (0.33 ± 0.15) m/s vs. (0.42 ± 0.16) m/s], stride length [(61.54 ± 16.04) cm vs. (78.93 ± 20.48) cm, (59.80 ± 17.35) cm vs. (69.68 ± 18.32) cm], stride frequency [(65.52 ± 10.98) step/min vs. (78.12 ± 12.04) step/min, (63.10 ± 10.89) step/min vs. (71.15 ± 9.28) step/min] in the study and control groups were significantly increased compared with before treatment. These outcomes after treatment in the study group were superior to those in the control group ( t = 2.976, 2.404, 3.274, all P = 0.001). After treatment, modified Barthel index [(44.94 ± 3.29) vs. (75.27 ± 3.56), (43.32 ± 4.51) vs. (64.51 ± 3.95)], Fugl-Meyer Assessment score [(52.36 ± 6.89) points vs. (73.20 ± 5.24) points, (52.35 ± 6.79) points vs. (61.97 ± 4.88) points] and Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale score [(9.42 ± 1.95) points vs. (15.69 ± 1.78) points, (9.24 ± 2.32) points vs. (13.65 ± 1.96) points; (8.97 ± 2.58) points vs. (19.52 ± 1.35) points; (9.48 ± 1.77) points vs. (16.20 ± 1.72) points; (12.32 ± 2.56) points vs. (25.26 ± 2.45) points; (12.41 ± 2.50) points vs. (18.20 ± 2.44) points; (13.03 ± 3.16) points vs. (20.07 ± 2.67) points; (12.49 ± 2.77) points vs. (16.60 ± 2.78) points; (5.98 ± 1.23) points vs. (12.30 ± 1.36) points; (5.99 ± 1.21) points vs. (8.25 ± 1.37) points] in the study and control groups were significantly increased compared with before treatment. After treatment, these scores in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t = 14.451, 11.200, 5.502, 10.843, 14.581, 6.429, 14.983, all P < 0.001). Conclusion:Electroacupuncture can effectively improve the symptoms and limb function of patients with post-stroke hemiplegia, and improve their gait and quality of life.