OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with motor imagery therapy on motor function and activity of daily living in patients with hemiplegic cerebral infarction.

METHODSNinety patients with hemiplegic cerebral infarction were randomly divided into a rehabilitation group, an EA group and a comprehensive group, 30 patients in each one. The patients in the rehabilitation group were treated with regular care, medication and rehabilitation training; based on the rehabilitation group, the patients in the EA group were treated mainly with electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Dingnieqianxiexian (MS 6), Dingniehouxiexian (MS 7), Jianyu (LI 15), Waiguan (TE 5), Fengshi (GB 31) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6); with the arrival of. EA device was connected for 30 min. The patients in the comprehensive group were treated with EA as the EA group and motor imagery therapy, 20 min per treatment. The treatment was given once a day, five treatments per week, and totally 4-week treatment was performed. The Barthel index and Brunnstrom score before and after treatment were observed in the three groups.

RESULTSThree cases did not finish the trial and finally 87 cases were included into analysis, including 30 cases in the rehabilitation group, 29 cases in the EA group and 28 cases in the comprehensive group. Compared before treatment, the Barthel index and Brunnstrom score were significantly improved after treatment in the three groups (all<0.01); after treatment, the Barthel index in the EA group and comprehensive group was significantly higher than that in the rehabilitation group (both<0.01); the lower extremity score of Brunnstrom score in the comprehensive group was better than those in the EA group and rehabilitation group (both<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA combined with motor imagery therapy and rehabilitation can significantly improve the motor function and activity of daily living in patients with hemiplegic cerebral infarction, which is superior to rehabilitation alone or EA alone.