Effect of needle-retaining time on therapeutic efficacy for post-stroke hemiplegia

Objective

To observe the effect of needle-retaining time in scalp acupuncture on therapeutic efficacy for post-stroke hemiplegia.

Methods

A total of 82 cases who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into a control group (22 cases), a short-time needle-retaining group (30 cases) and a long-time needle-retaining group (30 cases). Conventional Bobath therapy was employed in the control group while the scalp acupuncture was combined in the short-time (0.5 h) needle-retaining group and long-time (24 h) needle-retaining group. Then functional assessments were made 1 month and 3 months after treatment using Fugl-Meyer motor scale (FMMS), Fugl-Meyer assessment of balance (FMA-B) and modified Barthel index (MBI) score.

Results

Cases in the long-time needle-retaining group obtained better effects in motor function of the limbs and activities of daily living (ADL) than the other two groups (P<0.05). In addition, there was no statistical significance between the short-time needle-retaining group and the control group (P>0.05).

Conclusion

The needle-retaining time in scalp acupuncture is substantially associated with the effect for post-stroke hemiplegia and long-time needle-retaining is more advisable.