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.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of motor function of cerebral palsy children by the adjuvant therapy of acupuncture and its factors retrospectively.

METHODSFive hundred and twenty cerebral palsy children in hospital (from January 2005 to December 2014) who meet the criteria were selected through Doctor Workstation of our hospital. The cases were divided into groups according to the type of cerebral palsy, gestational age, complication, treatment time and age. Based on the physical rehabilitation, all the patients were assisted by acupuncture. Scalp acupuncture was used at(seven-intelligent needles), motor area, foot-motor-sensory area, etc. Body acupuncture were mainly at the governor vessel andmeridians of hand and foot. Treatment was given once every other day for eight months. Effects were evaluated by gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) and gross motor function measure (GMFM).

RESULTS① GMFCS:after eight-month treatment, the total effective rate of children with spastic cerebral palsy was superior to those of mixed type and involuntary movement type[77.9% (300/385) vs 60.3% (38/63), 56.9% (41/72), both<0.01]. The total effective rates of the above three types with gestational age from 37 to 42 weeks were better than those of the corresponding types with gestational age (<0.01,<0.05). The efficacy of children with mental retardation and language disorderwas higher than that of epilepsy and hearing disorder (<0.01,<0.05). The total effective rates of patients in the three types with the age of 1-2 were better than those of the corresponding types with the age of 2-4 (all<0.05). ② GMFM:after three-month and eight-month treatment, the GMFM scores of the three types were increased in different degrees (all<0.01), and after eight-month treatment, the score of the spastic type was increased more obviously than those of the other two types (both<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe motor function of cerebral palsy children can be improved assisted by acupuncture, and the effect may be related to treating time, cerebral palsy type, gestational age, complication and age.