RESUMO
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and massotherapy for cerebral palsy-salivation. Method Forty-eight patients with infantile cerebral palsy were randomly allocated to two groups. The control group of 24 patients received acupoint application of Chinese herbal medicine and did the tongue exercises. The observation group of 24 patients received acupuncture and massotherapy in addition. Result Of the control group, five patients were assessed as grade Ⅰ, four patients as grade Ⅱ, 10 patients as grade Ⅲ, two patients as grade Ⅳ and three patients as grade Ⅴ in the TDS grading after treatment. Of the observation group, 10 patients were assessed as grade Ⅰ, seven patients as grade Ⅱ, four patients as grade Ⅲ, two patients as gradeⅣ and one patients as grade Ⅴ in the TDS grading after treatment. The TDS grading assessment was better in the observation group of patients than in the control group. After treatment, middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity and vessel pulsation index were (135.64±13.72)cm/s and (1.05±0.17), respectively, in the control group and (144.78±16.45)cm/s and (0.90±0.18), respectively, in the observation group. There was no statistically significant difference in speech training between the two groups (P>0.05). The number of independent eating patients was significantly larger in the observation group than in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference (P0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture and massotherapy is safe and of a fair effect in treating cerebral palsy-salivation. It can increase cerebral blood flow, promote the contraction of local muscles, control salivation and improve the quality of life in cerebral palsy patients.