[Effect of the contralateral needling therapy on post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect contralateral needling of in improving pain, edema and limb dysfunction in stroke patients with shoulder-hand syndrome. METHODS: A total of 62 patients with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome were divided into a control group and an observation group, 31 cases in each one. The routine treatment with internal medicine and rehabilitation manipulation was adopted in the two groups. Additionally, the routine acupuncture treatment was used in the control group and the contralateral needling techniques was applied in the observation group. The needles were retained for 30 min. The treatment was given once a day for 5 days a week and consecutively for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the score of the modified Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA scale), the score of the visual analogue scale (VAS), the score of the hand edema rating and the score of the modified Barthel index (ADL score) were evaluated. RESULTS: <0.05). CONCLUSION: The contralateral needling therapy of acupuncture is effective for relieving pain and edema as well as improving the motor function of the affected limb in the patients with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome.