Objective:To observe the effect of applying tuina to exterior-interiorly connected meridians for post-stroke upper limb spasticity.
Methods:A total of 150 patients with post-stroke upper limb spasticity were randomly allocated into a treatment group (n=75) and a control group (n=75) by the random number table. Patients in the treatment group received tuina on exterior-interiorly connected meridians, whereas patients in the control group received standard rehabilitation therapy. The therapeutic efficacies in both groups were observed after 3 weeks of treatment.
Results:The total effective rate in the treatment group was 89.3%, versus 61.3% in the control group, showing a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). After the treatment, the muscle tones by the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) were significantly improved in both groups (bothP<0.05); and the improvement of muscle tone was more significant in the treatment group than that in the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion:Applying tuina to exterior-interiorly connected meridians can obtain an exact efficacy for post-stroke upper limb spasticity.

Objective:To observe the effect of combining Chinese medicine and tuina along the meridians on motor function and activities of daily living (ADL) in patient with post-stroke upper limb spasticity. Methods:A total of 220 patients with post-stroke upper limb spasticity were randomly allocated into a treatment group (n=110) and a control group (n=110). Patients in the treatment group received tuina along the meridians combined with spasticity-alleviating and collateral-unblocking Chinese medicine, whereas patients in the control group received routine rehabilitation therapy. Patients in both groups were treated for 3 weeks. Then the patients’ motor function, ADL and muscle tone were evaluated before and after treatment using the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA), modified Barthel index (MBI) and modified Ashworth scale (MAS). Results:After treatment, the FMA scores, MBI scores, and muscle (shoulder intortor, elbow flexors and wrist flexors) tones were significantly improved (P<0.05), but the improvement was more significant in the treatment group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion:Tuina along the meridians combined with spasticity-alleviating and collateral-unblocking Chinese medicine can substantially alleviate muscle tone on the affected side and remarkably improve the patients’ motor function and ADL.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the long-term therapeutic efficacy of muscle-region alignment needling plus dermalneedle therapy in treating post-stroke upper-limb spasticity.MethodTotally 488 patients with post-stroke upper-limb spasticity were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 244 in each group. Besides theessentialrehabilitation treatment, the treatment group was intervened by muscle-region alignment needling plus dermal needle therapy, while the control group was given regular Western medication.Thetwo groups were intervened for 3 weeks and were followed up for 6 months. The neurologic function, Functional Comprehensive Assessment (FCA), and Stroke Speciality-Quality of Life (SS-QOL) were observed for the follow-up study.ResultThe total effective rate was 93.4% in the treatment group versus 61.5% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); the neurologic function, FCA score, and SS-QOL score in the treatment group were significantly superior to that in the control group at the end of the follow-up study (P<0.05).ConclusionMuscle-region alignment needling plus dermal needle therapycan produce a content long-term therapeutic efficacy in treating post-stroke upper-limb spasticity.