Clinical Observation of Acupuncture plus Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for Motor Aphasia after Ischemic Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus neuromuscular electrical stimulation in treating motor aphasia after ischemic stroke.MethodSeventy-five patients were randomized into a control group of 38 cases and a treatment group of 37 cases. The two groups both received basic treatment. Besides, the control group was given acupuncture treatment; the treatment group was given acupuncture plus neuromuscular electrical stimulation. The acupuncture treatment and neuromuscular electrical stimulation were given once a day, 10 d as a treatment course, totally for 2 successive courses. The Aphasia Battery of Chinese (ABC) was observed before and after treatment to evaluate the speech function.ResultThe total effective rate was 81.6%in the control group versus 89.2% in the treatment group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The Communication Activities of Daily Living (CADL-T) scores were significantly increased after intervention in both groups (P<0.01), and the CADL-T score of the treatment group was significantly higherthan that of the control group (P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture is effective in improving the speech dysfunction and the quality of life in patients after ischemic stroke, and it can produce a higher therapeutic efficacy when combined with neuromuscularelectrical stimulation.