Clinical Observation of Acupuncture at Acupoints Selected byNa Jia Method for Lower-limb Spastic Hemiplegia after Cerebral Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture at acupoints selected byZi Wu Liu Zhu Na Jia point-selection card invented by professor ZHOU Ming-xin method (midnight-noon ebb-flow) in improving lower-limb spastic hemiplegia after cerebral stroke.Method Eighty-four patients with lower-limb spastic hemiplegia after cerebral stroke were randomized into a treatment group, a control group, and a blank group by using random number table method, 28 cases in each group. The blank group was only given rehabilitation; the control group was treated with ordinary acupuncture in addition to rehabilitation; the treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at acupoints selected byZi Wu Liu Zhu Na Jia method in addition to the intervention given to the control group. The Ashworth Scale, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) in Barthel Index (BI) and simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of lower-limb function were observed before and after the intervention. Result After the treatment, the simplified FMA scores were changed significantly in the three groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the between-group differences in comparing the simplified FMA score were statistically significant (P<0.01), and the treatment group was superior to both the control group and blank group (P<0.01), while the difference between the control group and blank group was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The ADL from BI and Ashworth scores were significantly changed after the treatment in the three groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). After the treatment, the between-group differences in comparing the ADL score and Ashworth grading were statistically significant (P<0.01), and the therapeutic efficacy was the best in the treatment group (P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at acupoints selected byZi Wu Liu Zhu Na Jia method plus ordinary acupuncture and rehabilitation is effective in improving muscular tension, enhancing lower-limb motor function and the quality of life; theZi Wu Liu Zhu point-selection card is easy-to-operate and has a high accuracy, thus suitable for application and promotion in clinic.