The effect of low versus high frequency electrical acupoint stimulation on motor recovery after ischemic stroke by motor evoked potentials study.
Electrical acupoint stimulation (EAS) has been used to treat motor dysfunction of stroke patients with reportedly effective results. When we operate EAS treatment, we can modulate the intensity and frequency of stimulation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of different frequencies in treating motor dysfunction of ischemic stroke patients with EAS. The subjects of this study were 62 ischemic stroke patients with motor dysfunction in Kyunghee oriental medical center. They have been hospitalized after 1 week to 1 month from onset. They were treated with 2 Hz or 120 Hz EAS for 2 weeks, and had motor evoked potentials (MEPs) tests before and after 2 weeks of EAS treatment. We measured latency, central motor conduction time (CMCT) and amplitude of MEPs. After 2 weeks of treatment, we compared MEPs data of the affected side between the 2 Hz group and the 120 Hz group. The 2 Hz group showed more significant improvement than the 120 Hz group in latency, CMCT and amplitude (p = 0.008, 0.002, 0.002). In the case of the affected side MEPs data divided by normal side MEPs data, the 2 Hz group also showed higher improvement rate than the 120 Hz group in latency, CMCT and amplitude with significant differences (p = 0.003, 0.000, 0.008). These results suggest that low frequency EAS activates the central motor conduction system better than high frequency EAS, and EAS with low frequency could be more helpful for motor recovery after ischemic stroke than that with high frequency.
Kim
Young Suk
YS
Department of Cardiovascular and Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
Hong
Jin Woo
JW
Na
Byung Jo
BJ
Park
Seong Uk
SU
Jung
Woo Sang
WS
Moon
Sang Kwan
SK
Park
Jung Mi
JM
Ko
Chang Nam
CN
Cho
Ki Ho
KH
Bae
Hyung Sup
HS
D000368:Aged; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D018579:Patient Selection; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation