Effect of Cluster Needling at Scalp Acupoints plus Paraffin Therapy on Motor Function in Patients with Spastic Cerebral Palsy / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of cluster needling at scalp acupoints plus paraffin therapy on motor function in cerebral palsy patients.Method Forty eligible patients with spastic cerebral palsy were randomized into a control group and an experimental group, 20 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by cluster needling with long-time retaining of the needles plus Uyeda's approach and conventional rehabilitation trainings specifically for spastic cerebral palsy; the experimental group was intervened by paraffin therapy in addition to the treatment given to the control group. The interventions were conducted once a day, for a total of 8 weeks. The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) were adopted to evaluate the motor function before and after the treatment.Result The GMFM-88 scores were significantly changed after the treatment in both groups (P0.05); there was a significant difference in comparing the MAS score between the two groups after the intervention (P<0.05).Conclusion On the basis of conventional rehabilitation trainings, cluster needling at scalp acupoints plus paraffin therapy can produce a significant efficacy in improving the muscular tension and motor function, and benefit the development of cerebral palsy patients.