ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of yang-supplementing thread-embedding (acupoint embedded with catgut soaked in Shenfu injection) in treating shoulder-hand syndrome after cerebral stroke. Method Totally 120 patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 60 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupoint thread-embedding, while the control group was by conventional acupuncture. The changes of symptoms, joint range of motion (ROM), pain, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and general therapeutic efficacy were observed after 30 d treatment. Result The total effective rate was 95.0% in the treatment group versus 85.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Yang-supplementing thread-embedding and conventional acupuncture both can mitigate pain induced by shoulder-hand syndrome, increase the range of motion, and significantly improve the upper-limb motor function, while the effect of yang-supplementing thread-embedding is superior to that of conventional acupuncture.