Effect of Acupuncture and Exercise Therapy on Dysfunction after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

VernacularTitle:针刺与运动疗法对重型颅脑损伤后功能恢复的影响
Author: Mengjin YU ; Xuebao ZHENG ; Xuan ZHOU
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: traumatic brain injury, rehabilitation, acupuncture, exercise therapy
From: Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2012;18(11):1049-1051
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective To explore the interactive effect of acupuncture and exercise on severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods 120 comatose patients following TBI after routine surgery were equally divided into combined group (acupuncture and exercise), acupuncture group, exercise group, and control group (neither acupuncture, nor exercise). They were assessed with Glasgow coma scale (GCS),Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), modified Brathel index (MBI) and neurological deficit scores (modified Edinburgh-Scandinavia stroke scale, MESSS) before and after the treatment. Results The scores of GCS, FMA, MESSS and MBI improved more in the combined group than in the control group (P<0.05). The scores of GCS and MESSS improved more in the acupuncture group and the exercise group than in the control group (P<0.05). The scores of MESSS improved more in the combined group than in the exercise group (P<0.01). Conclusion Both acupuncture and exercise can synergetically reduce the disability and coma of comatose patients following TBI.