OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects of opposing needling and routine acupuncture for treatment of poststroke shoulder-hand syndrome.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into an opposing needling group and a routine acupuncture group, 30 cases in each group. In the two groups, Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14), Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4), etc. were selected, with on the healthy side selected for the opposing needling group and on the affected side selected for the routine acupuncture group. The motor function of the affected limb was evaluated by Fugl-Meyer scale, activity of daily living by ADL scale, and pain by VAS, and the edema degree was investigated before and after treatment.

RESULTSThere were significant differences before treatment and after 2 therapeutic courses in the scores of Fugl-Meyer for the upper limb motor function and the ADL score for activity of daily living (both P<0.05), with the opposing needling group being significantly better than the routine acupuncture group (P<0.05); after treatment, both the edema degree and the pain scores significantly decreased (both P<0.05), with the opposing needling group in improvement of the edema degree being better the routine acupuncture group (P<0.05), and with no significant difference between the two groups in improvement of pain (P>0.05); the total effective rate was 93.3% in the opposing needling group and 90.0% in the routine acupuncture group with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical therapeutic effect of the opposing needling is better than that of routine acupuncture therapy for treatment of poststroke shoulder hand syndrome.