The Influences Of Two Different Intervening Periods Of Acupuncture Therapy On The Limbs Motor Function In Patients With Cerebral Infarction

ObjectiveTo study The influences of two different intervening periods of acupuncture therapy on the limbs motor function in patients with cerebral infarction.Method90 hemiplegiain patients with cerebral infarction were randomly divided into 3 groups,including day 10 group(Group A,30 cases,started acupuncture therapy within 10d after episode,and were treated with routine therapy),day 20 group(Group B,30 cases,started acupuncture therapy 10-20d after episode,and were treated with routine therapy),and basal control group(Group C,30 cases,were treated with routine therapy alone).With 4 patients suspended the treatment,there were still 29 cases in Group A,28 cases in Group B and 29 cases in Group C.Group A and Group B were treated with acupuncture for 3 weeks,5 times each week routine therapy was basal drugs and rehabilitation routine training.The motor function and activity of daily life of patients were detected by using NIHSS,Fugl—Meyer Assessment(FMA)and Barthel Index (BI)at admission and the 6th week after episode.Results1.Comparison of the scores of NIHSS:There was no significant difference (P＞0.05) in NIHSS among three groups at admission,which implied good comparability.There were statistically significant diference when the three groups' NIHSS at 6th week after episode were compared with that at admission (P＜0.05).After treatment,the NIHSS at the 6th week after episode of Group A decreased more than that of Group B(P＜0.05) or Group C(P＜0.05),and the NIHSS of Group B decreased more than that of Group C(P＜0.05).The delta change of NIHSS(NIHSS of admission subtract NIHSS of the 6th week after episode)of Group A is bigger than that of Group B(P＜0.05) or Group C(P＜0.05),and the delta change of NIHSS of Group B is bigger than that of Group C (P＜0.05).2.Comparison of the scores,ranks and Therapeutic Effects of Fugl-Meyer(FMA):The scores of FMA on hands,feet and overall measurement of the three groups at admission showed no statistical significance (P＞0.05),which implied good comparability.The final FMA scores of hands,feet and overall in three groups increased significantly as compared with those at admission(P＜0.05).the analysis showed that Group A was better than Group B(P＜0.05) or Group C(P＜0.05)in improving FMA scores on hands,feet and overall.Also Group A was better than Group B(P＜0.05)or Group C(P＜0.05)in upgrading FMA rank.Group A had better therapeutic effect of Fugl-Meyer function(FMA) on movement than than Group B(P＜0.05)or Group C(P＜0.05).There were significant difference(P＜0.05)between Group B and Group C in improving FMA scores on hands,feet and overall,upgrading FMA rank.Also Group B had better therapeutic effect of Fugl-Meyer function(FMA) on movement than than Group B(P＜0.05).3.Comparison of the scores and disability rate of Barthel Index (BI):There was no significant difference(P＞0.05) in BI scores among three groups at admission,which implied good comparability.The BI scores in three groups increased significantly as compared with those at admission(P＜0.05).At the 6th week after episode,the BI indicator of Group A increased more than that of Group B(P＜0.05) or Group C(P＜0.05).And Group A was better than Group B(P＜0.05) or Group C(P＜0.05)in lowering the disability rate.There were significant difference between Group B and Group C(P＜0.05) in improving BI scores.Also Group B was better than Group C(P＜0.05) in lowering the disability rate.ConclusionAcupuncture therapy could strengthen the therapeutic effect,especially in decreasing the level of neurological function impairment,improving the motor function and activity of daily life,lowering the disability rate in patients with cerebral infarction at early stage(within 20d).The earlier the therapy intervention(within 10d) is,the better the effect is.