Observations on the Efficacy of Early Scalp Acupuncture plus Modern Rehabilitation Techniques in Treating Postapoplectic Hemiplegia

Objective To investigate the effect of the early intervention of scalp acupuncture plus modern rehabilitation techniques on motor function and activities of daily living in patients with postapoplectic hemiplegia.Methods A single-blind randomized controlled trial was made.One hundred and thirty-five acute stroke patients whose vital signs were stable and neurological signs no longer developed were recruited.They were randomly allocated to a scalp acupuncture-rehabilitation group(45 cases),a rehabilitation group(45 cases)and a scalp acupuncture-group(45 cases).Scalp acupuncture plus modern rehabilitation,simple modern rehabilitation and simple scalp acupuncture were separately used for treatment.After 6 weeks of treatment,a statistical analysis was made using simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment,the Barthel Index and the neurological deficit score as assessment criteria.Results The Fugl-Meyer Assessment score and the Barthel Index score increased in the three groups of patients after 6 weeks of treatment as compared with before;there was a statistically significant difference(P0.01).After treatment,there were statistically significant differences in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment score and the Barthel Index score between the scalp acupuncture-rehabilitation group and the rehabilitation group or the scalp acupuncture group(P0.01).The cure and marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate were higher in the scalp acupuncture-rehabilitation group than in the rehabilitation group and in the scalp acupuncture group(P0.05).Conclusion The early combined use of scalp acupuncture and modern rehabilitation has a synergistic effect on postapoplectic hemiplegia and can be a better protocol for the early convalescence of cerebral stroke patients.