Clinical Study of Scalp Electro-Acupuncture Combined with Alternating Flexor-Extensor Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation of Acupoints for Improving Balance and Walking Ability in Patients with Post-Stroke Hemiplegia
Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of scalp electro-acupuncture combined with alternating flexor-extensor transcutaneous electrical stimulation of acupoints for improving balance and walking ability in hemiplegic patients with cerebrovascular accident(CVA).Methods:60 cases of hemiplegic CVA patients,who met the inclusion criteria,were randomly divided into the conventional group and the combined group.Both groups were given basic treatment for stroke;the conventional group was additionally treated with electro-needling Zusanli(ST36),Yanglingquan(GB34),Yinlingquan(SP9),Sanyinjiao(SP6),Qiuxu(GB40)and Taichong(LR3)on affected limb;the combined group was additionally treated with scalp electro-needling Baihui(DU20),the affected motor area and bilateral balance area;meanwhile alternating flexor-extensor transcutaneous electrical stimulation of acupoints was applied to Fuxi(BL38),Yinmen(BL37),Xuehai(SP10),and Jimen(SP11)on the affected limb.5-Times Sit to Stand Test(5-TSST),4-Stage Balance Test(4-STB),Brief-Balance Evaluation Systems Test(Brief-BESTest),Functional Gait Assessment(FGA),Stroke-Specific Quality of Life(SS-QOL),and Surface Electromyography MAX Amplitude(MAX)were used to evaluate treatment efficacy in the two groups.Results:The score of 5-TSST was decreased(P<0.01),the scores of 4-STB,Brief-BESTest,FGA and SS-QOL,as well as the value of MAX of surface electromyographic signals were increased after the treatment compared to those before the treatment in the two groups(P<0.01);of which the improvements were more significant in the combined group than those in the conventional group(P<0.01).Conclusion:Scalp electro-acupuncture combined with alternating flexor-extensor transcutaneous electrical stimulation of acupoints can effectively improve the balance and walking ability in hemiplegic patients with CVA,and the efficacy is remarkable by upper and lower synergistic and synchronized stimulation.The therapy is worthy to be promoted in clinical practice.
StrokeHemiplegiaElectro-acupunctureAlternating flexor-extensor transcutaneous electrical stimulation of acupointsBalance and walking ability