Electroacupuncture may help motor recovery in chronic stroke survivors: A pilot study

Abstract

Abstract-Past studies have suggested that acupuncture may reduce spasticity in stroke survivors. We do not know, however, whether acupuncture may enhance the effect of strength training on motor function. This study compared upper-limb motor functional improvement in chronic stroke survivors who received a combination of acupuncture and strength training with that of subjects who received strength training alone. A total of 10 chronic stroke patients with moderate or severe wrist muscle spasticity were recruited for this study. The study used a crossover design with a random order of either combined electroacupuncture and strength training or strength training alone. Each subject received one of the two types of treatment twice a week for the first 6 weeks and switched to the other for another 6 weeks. Quantitative measurements of wrist spasticity, active wrist extension range of motion, isometric wrist strength, and clinical evaluation with Fugl-Meyer (FM) upper-limb motor scores were conducted before and after either treatment. After the combined treatment, the quantitative spasticity level, active wrist extension range of motion (increased by a mean of 16.3 degrees), and FM upper-limb motor score (increased by a mean of 4.9 points) changed significantly (p < 0.01) but no significant changes were noted in isometric wrist strength. The strength training alone resulted in no significant changes to any measured variable. The results of the current study indicate that the combined acupuncture and strength training treatment reduced muscle spasticity and may have improved motor function for chronic stroke survivors with moderate or severe muscle spasticity.

Non-pharmaceutical therapies for stroke: Mechanisms and clinical implications

“…After acupuncture therapy, patients showed improved recovery of motor function, reduced spasticity, relief of post-stroke depression, urinary incontinence or even reduction of infarction sizes (Hu et al , 1993; Johansson et al , 1993; Naeser et al , 1994; Si et al , 1998; Wong et al , 1999; Moon et al , 2003; Alexander et al , 2004; Schaechter et al , 2007; Bai et al , 2008; Liu et al , 2008b; Li et al , 2009b; Liu et al , 2009a; Chau et al , 2010). …”

Acupoint‐Specific, Frequency‐Dependent, and Improved Insulin Sensitivity Hypoglycemic Effect of Electroacupuncture Applied to Drug‐Combined Therapy Studied by a Randomized Control Clinical Trial

“…In other studies, acupuncture plus medications showed better effect on total sleep duration than medications alone [25]. In stroke rehabilitation, the study findings indicated that combining EA with strength training treatment reduced muscle spasticity and may have improved the motor function of chronic stroke survivors with moderate or severe muscle spasticity [4]. …”

“…Numerous clinical utilizations of acupuncture and planned studies have been developed since the mid-twentieth century. The greatest positive research outcomes were achieved in the areas of pain management [3], stroke-induced paralysis management [4], antiemesis treatment [5], and drug addiction treatment [6]. …”

Selection of acupoints for managing upper-extremity spasticity in chronic stroke patients

“…Liu et al42 have shown that muscle spasticity was significantly decreased and the active range of motion of the wrist joint was increased after a 6-week combined EA treatment and strengthening exercise intervention. The acupoints used in that study were Hegu (LI 4), Houxi (SI 3), Waiguan (TE 5), Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli (LI 10), and Jianyu (LI 15).…”