OBJECTIVETo observe effects of different interference orders of electroacupuncture and exercise therapy on the therapeutic effect of hemiplegia after stroke.

METHODSThe patients of hemiplegia due to stroke were randomly divided into a group A and a group B. The group A were treated by exercise therapy after electroacupuncture (EA) and the group B by EA after exercise therapy. Fugl-Meyer evaluation (FME), modified Barthel index (MBI) and amplitude of somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) on the affected side before treatment and after one therapeutic course (2 weeks) were recorded and compared in the two groups.

RESULTSBefore and after treatment, FME were 31.760 +/- 4.438 and 76.640 +/- 3.621, and MBI were 26.520 +/- 2.413 and 62.360 +/- 3.700 in the group A; and FME were 32.480 +/- 5.903 and 65.640 +/- 5.212, and the MBI were 28.000 +/- 3.383 and 54.480 +/- 5.205 in the group B, respectively, with very significant differences in FME and MBI in the two groups (all P < 0.01); and the different values before and after treatment in the two indexes in the group A were better than those in the group B (all P < 0.05). There was a very significant difference in the amplitude of SEP before and after treatment in the group A (P < 0.01) and no significant difference in the group B, and there was no significant difference between the two groups in the different value of the amplitude of SEP.

CONCLUSIONCombination of any orders of electroacupuncture and exercise therapy can improve limb function of the patient with hemiplegia after stroke, but the therapeutic effect of exercise therapy after EA is better.