OBJECTIVETo probe the effect and mechanism of the nuchal acupuncture and abdominal acupuncture for treatment of stroke patients with spastic hemiplegia.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Nuchal acupuncture and abdominal acupuncture treatment was used and Fengfu (GV 16), Fengchi (GB 20), Tianzhu (BL 10), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Guanyuan (CV 4) etc. were selected in observation group, routine acupuncture was applied on Binao (LI 14), Quchi (LI 11), Huantiao (GB 30) and Futu (ST 32) etc. in control group. The scale of Ashworth and score of Fugel-Meyer of the spastic lateral upper and lower limbs and the changes of the EMG F-wave in spastic upper limb of patients in two groups were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe Ashworth scale and Fugel-Meyer score of the upper and lower limbs were obviously improved, the amplitude was decreased, the duration was shorten and the threshold of the EMG F-wave of the spastic upper limb was increased (all P < 0.01) in the observation group. The observation group was superior to the control group in Fugel-Meyer score of the upper and lower limbs of the patients the Ashworth scale of the lower limb, and the amplitude, duration and threshold of the EMG F-wave of the spastic upper limb (all P < 0.01). The total effective rate of 90.0% in observation group was superior to that of 50.0% in control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe nuchal acupuncture and abdominal acupuncture treatment can decrease the muscle tension of the stroke patients with spastic hemiplegia.