Objective: To observe the effect of balancing yin-yang needling manipulation on post-stroke upper limb spasticity and changes of electromyography (EMG) after treatment.
Methods: A total of 60 eligible cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, 30 in each group. Based on routine medication, cases in the control group were treated with conventional needling manipulation, whereas cases in the observation group were treated with balancing yin-yang manipulation. After the courses of treatment were completed, the therapeutic efficacies were evaluated using modified Ashworth scale and clinical spasticity index (CSI), coupled with the integrated electromyography (IEMG) and root mean square (RMS) value of biceps in passive flexion of the elbow joint during isokinetic testing recorded with the surface EMG.
Results: The total effective rate in the observation group was 86.7%, versus 53.3% in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P < 0.05). After treatment, there was between-group statistical significance in severity of elbow spasticity (P<0.05); there were intra-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) and inter-group (P<0.05) statistical significances in CSI index;and there were intra-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) and inter-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) statistical significances in IEMG and RMS values.
Conclusion:Balancing yin-yang and conventional needling manipulations can both improve upper limb spasm and reduce CSI as well as IEMG and RMS values in stroke patients;however, balancing yin-yang manipulation is better than conventional manipulation in clinical effect.