OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy difference between acupuncture combined with rehabilitation and simple rehabilitation for foot drop after stroke.

METHODSNinety-eight patients were randomly divided into a combination group and a rehabilitation group, 49 cases in each one. Acupuncture and rehabilitation were used in the combination group. The acupoints were Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Guangming (GB 37), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc., while rehabilitation included training for musculi hippicus strength and musculi triceps surae. Only the same rehabilitation was applied in the rehabilitation group. The treatment was given six times a week for continuous six weeks. Musculi hippicus force, shank triceps spasticity, toe flexion improvement and the maximum integral EMG (iEMG) of the musculi tibialis anterior and caput laterale musculi gastrocnemii were compared between the two groups,and the effects were evaluated.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the musculi hippicus force, iEMG of musculi tibialis anterior and caput laterale musculi gastrocnemii, the function scores of the lower limbs by Fugl-Meyer of the two groups were better than those before treatment (all<0.05), with the better effect in the combination group (all<0.05). And the scores of shank triceps tension were decreased in the two groups (both<0.05), more apparently for the combination therapy (<0.05). The improvement rate of toe flexion of the combination group was 87.76% (43/49), which was obviously higher than 69.39% (34/49) of the rehabilitation group (<0.05). The cured rate of the combination group was 48.98%(24/49), and it was better than 28.57% (14/49) of the rehabilitation group (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAcupuncture combined with rehabilitation achieves better effect than simple rehabilitation for foot drop after stroke.