OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts on integrated electromyogram (IEMG) of gastrocnemius muscle of the children with spastic cerebral palsy treated with different intervention order of acupuncture and kinesithera py.

METHODSTwenty-nine children with spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into group A (15 cases) in which the patients were treated with acupuncture before kinesitherapy, and group B (14 cases) in which the patients were treated with acupuncture after kinesitherapy. In group A, acupuncture was applied at Weizhong (BL 40) and Chengshan (BL 57). Afterward, Bobath kinesitherapy was adopted. In group B, Bobath kinesitherapy was adopted at first, and acupuncture was applied at Weizhong (BL 40) and Chengshan (BL 57) afterward. The instant changes of IEMG after treatment were recorded in each group.

RESULTS(1) Group A: after single acupuncture and the combined intervention in which acupuncture was applied together with kinesitherapy, IEMG increased apparently (both P < 0.05). There was no significant difference statistically in IEMG after acupuncture as compared with that after the combined intervention of acupuncture and kinesitherapy (P > 0.05). (2) Group B: after single kinesitherapy and the combined intervention in which acupuncture was applied together with kinesitherapy, IEMG increased in tendency, but no statistically significant difference indicated (both P > 0.05). (3) In comparison of IEMG after treatment between two groups, there was no significant difference statistically (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe different intervention order of acupuncture and kinesitherapy impacts significantly IEMG of gastrocnemius muscle of the children with spastic cerebral palsy. In order to avoid hypermyotonia of gastrocnemius muscle after treatment, kinesitherapy should be applied before acupuncture in priority.