Study of Optimization of Different Acupuncture Treatment Protocols for the Early Stage of Ischemic Stroke

Objective To investigate the optimal acupuncture treatment protocol for the early stage of ischemic stroke. Method Ninety patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to groups A, B and C. Group A received body acupuncture; group B, scalp-body acupuncture; group C, scalp-body acupuncture plus acupuncture point injection. The neurological deficit score, the Fugl-Meyer motor function score and the activities of daily living score were counted in different groups before and after treatment. Result The neurological deficit score, the Fugl-Meyer motor function score and the activities of daily living score improved in varying degrees in different groups after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effect was better in group B(scalp-body acupuncture) than in the other two groups; there were statistically significant differences(P0.05). Conclusion A combination of scalp and body acupuncture is the optimal way for acupuncture to treat the early stage of ischemic stroke.