Effect of Electroacupuncture Combined with Bobath on Lower Limb Motor Function in Stroke Patients / 中国医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To determine the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture combined with the Bobath technique on the lower limb motor function in stroke patients.Methods Eighty-seven patients with stroke were included and randomly divided into groups A,B,and C (n =29 in each group).The patients were treated with the Bobath technique in group A,electroacupuncture in group B,and electroacupuncture combined with the Bobath technique in group C.The Fugl-meyer Assessment (FMA),Modified Barthel Index (MBI),Motor Assessment Scale (MAS),and Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) were used to assess lower limb movement before and after treatment.Results Before treatment,no significant differences in FMA and MBI scores were found among the three groups (P ＞ 0.05).After treatment,the FMA and MBI scores in the three groups were significantly higher than those before the treatment,and the scores in group C were significantly higher than those in groups A and B (P ＜ 0.05).No significant differences in MAS and FAC grading were found among the three groups before treatment (P ＞ 0.05).After treatment,there were significant differences in MAS grading between group C and groups A and B and FAC grading between group C and group A (P ＜ 0.05).No significant difference in FAC grading was found between group C and group B (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The recovery of lower limb motor function was better in the stroke patients treated with electroacupuncture combined with the Bobath technique,which can significantly improve the ability of daily living,lower limb motor function,walking ability,and limb spasticity,compared with the simple electroacupuncture or Bobath technique.