OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effects of different needling methods at Neiguan (PC 6) on hand spasm in the patient of stroke.

METHODSOne hundred and seventy-two cases were randomly divided into a simple acupuncture group (n=36), a slowly twirling needle group (n = 34), a rapidly twirling needle group (n = 30), a simple lifting-thrusting group (n = 35) and a lifting-thrusting-twirling needle group (n = 37). Acupuncture was given at Neiguan (PC 6), twice each day, 5 min each time, and in combination with rehabilitation exercise. Modified Ashworth scale and Fugl-Meyer (FMA) hand function score were used for assessment of therapeutic effects.

RESULTSThe transient effective rate and the effective rate after treatment for 8 weeks for hand spasm were 66.7% and 55.6% in the simple acupuncture group, 82.4% and 85.3% in the slowly twirling needle group, 96.7% and 90.0% in the rapidly twirling needle group, 80.0% and 82.9% in the simple lifting-thrusting group and 94.6% and 91.9% in the lifting-thrusting-twirling needle group, the rapidly twirling needle group and the lifting-thrusting-twirling needle group being better than other 3 groups (P<0.01). After treatment, the grades for Ashworth scale and FMA scores in the lifting-thrusting-twirling needle group and the rapidly twirling needle group were better than those in other 3 groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) has a very definite transient effect, and the lifting-thrusting-twirling needling manipulation and the rapidly twirling needling manipulation have the best inhibitive effect on spasm.