Effects of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training on unilateral spatial neglect / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training on unilateral spatial neglect (USN).Methods One hundred stroke patients with USN were randomly divided into a treatment group (n=50) and a control group (n=50).Both groups were treated with routine rehabilitation training for 4 weeks,while the treatment group was additionally treated with acupuncture.Before and after the treatment,the degree of USN was evaluated in both groups along with the Fugl-Meyer assessment,the modified Barthel index and the incidence of shoulder pain.Results No significant differences were found between the 2 groups in any of the measurements before the treatment.After the treatment the incidence of shoulder pain in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group.All the other measurements were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group.Conclusion Acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training can significantly improve the symptoms of unilateral spatial neglect,improve motor function in a hemiplegic limb and improve performance in the activities of daily living.