Additional therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture in conjunction with conventional rehabilitation for patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the additional therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture for patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke.


METHODS
Randomized controlled study.


METHODS
A total of 63 patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke.


METHODS
The study and control groups underwent a conventional rehabilitation program, with the former receiving an additional 8 courses of electroacupuncture over a period of one month. Therapeutic effects were assessed by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for motor performance and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) for the independence of functional performance at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, and 3 months and 6 months after stroke.


RESULTS
For total Fugl-Meyer Assessment score, improvement was more significant for the study group relative to the control group at 2 weeks (16.2 vs 10.6; p = 0.047) and 4 weeks after treatment (27.4 vs 17.1; p = 0.005), and at 3 months after the stroke (34.7 vs 21.8; p = 0.009). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores improved significantly, especially in upper-limb motor function for the study group. There was no statistically significant between-group difference in total FIM score improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Electroacupuncture can improve motor function, especially in upper-limb motor function, for patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke.
Hsieh
Ru-Lan
RL
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shin Kong Wo Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Wang
Liang-Yi
LY
Lee
Wen-Chung
WC
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome