ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture at the interiorly-exteriorly related meridians plus rehabilitation training in treating post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome. Methods Sixty eligible patients with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at the interiorly-exteriorly related meridians plus rehabilitation training, while the control group was by rehabilitation training alone. After 2 treatment courses, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), visual analogue scale (VAS) and edema score were observed and compared. Results The FMA, VAS, and edema scores were significantly changed in both groups after intervention (P＜0.01). There were significant differences in comparing the FMA, VAS, and edema scores between the two groups after intervention (P＜0.05). The total effective rate was 83.3%in the treatment group versus 76.7%in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture at the interiorly-exteriorly related meridians plus rehabilitation is an effective method in treating post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome.