OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect difference between blood-letting and cupping therapy combined with basic treatment and simple basic treatment for upper limb spasticity in the recovery phase of stroke. METHODS: Sixty patients of upper limb spasticity in the recovery phase of stroke were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In the control group, the basic treatment, including the internal treatment, acupuncture and rehabilitation, was used for 2 weeks, 6 times a week, once a day. Based on the basic treatment, blood-letting, at 3 -well points each time, and cupping therapy were used at the most obvious spasm point in the belly of biceps muscle in the observation group for 2 weeks, 3 time a week, once every other day. The spasm score, passive traction value, and moter function score of upper limb were assessed in the two groups before and after treatment. The effects were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the spasm scores and passive traction values were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (all <0.01), with better score and value as well as different values before and after treatment in the observation group (<0.05, <0.01). After treatment, the motor function scores were higher than those before treatment in the two groups (both <0.01), with better score and different value before and after treatment in the observation group (both <0.05). The total effective rate was 90.0% (27/30) in the observation group, which was better than 76.7% (23/30) in the control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Based on the basic treatment, blood-letting combined with cupping therapy are effective for upper limb spasticity in the recovery phase of stroke.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Bloodletting ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity ; Stroke ; Stroke Rehabilitation ; Treatment Outcome ; Upper Extremity