OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acupuncture at different acupoints in meridians and meridians on lower limb muscle tension in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

METHODSNinety children with spastic cerebral palsy aged between 2 to 6 years old were divided into a yin-meridian group, a yang-meridian group and a rehabilitation group, 30 cases in each one. The patients in the rehabilitation group were treated with routine rehabilitation treatment; the patients in the yin-meridian group were treated with routine rehabilitation treatment and acupuncture at Xuehai (SP 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3) and Taichong (LR 3) along meridians; the patients in the yang-meridian group were treated with routine rehabilitation treatment and acupuncture at Futu (ST 32), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Guangming (GB 37) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) along meridians. All the three groups were treated once each other day, 10 times as one course, and totally 20-day treatment was given. Before and after treatment, modified Ashworth scale (MAS), clinical spasm index (CSI) and integrated electromyography (iEMG) of surface electromyogram of gastrocnemius muscle were evaluated.

RESULTSCompared before treatment, the MAS and CSI in the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group were improved after treatment (<0.05, <0.01); the differences before and after treatment in the rehabilitation group were not significant (both >0.05). After treatment, the differences between the rehabilitation group and yin-meridian group, yang-meridian group were significant (<0.05, <0.01); the differences of MAS and CSI between the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group were not significant (both >0.05). Compared before the treatment, the right-side iEMG and left-side iEMG were reduced in the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group (all <0.05); the right-side iEMG was increased in the rehabilitation group (<0.05). After treatment, the iEMG in the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group were lower than that in the rehabilitation group (all <0.05); the differences of iEMG before and after treatment in the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group were higher than that in the rehabilitation group (all <0.05); the differences of iEMG between the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group were not significant (both >0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at meridians and meridians could reduce muscle tension of lower limb and improve limb spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy, and the two acupuncture methods have similar clinical curative effect.