ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the effect of electro-acupuncture(EA) and warm-needle moxibustion(WNM) on the foot three-dimensional gait time-space parameters and surface electromyography of post-stroke patients with flaccid paralysis. Methods A total of 61 patients were randomly divided into EA group (N=30) and WNM group(N=31). Both groups were given post-stroke conventional treatment, and additionally EA group received EA while WNM group was given WNM. Before treatment and after 2 treatment courses, we detected the foot three-dimensional gait time-space parameters of pace race, stance phase, swing phase, bilateral stance phase, and step length, and surface electromyography parameters of root mean square(RMS), integrated electromyogram (iEMG) and co-contraction ratio(CR) of tibialis anterior muscle and gastrocnemius at the state of maximal isometric voluntary contraction(MIVC). Results(1) After treatment, the foot three-dimensional gait time-space parameters of the two groups were improved in various degrees (P<0.05 or P<0.01 compared with those before treatment) , and the improvement of EA group was superior to that of WNM group (P < 0.05). (2) After treatment, the RMS and iEMG of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscle as well as CR of dorsal extensor at MIVC state were improved in various degrees (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 compared with those before treatment) , and the improvement of EA group was superior to that of WNM group(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Conclusion WNM exerts better effect on improving the parameters of three-dimensional gait time-space parameters and surface electromyography of post-stroke patients with flaccid paralysis than EA.