title: [Observation on clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on upper limb spasticity in the patient of poststroke].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture at acupoints selected according to rehabilitation medical theory on upper limb spasticity in the patient of poststroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and an electro-stimulation group, 30 cases in each group. The acupuncture group were treated by acupuncture at the contralateral scalp motor region of the affected limb, Jiquan (HT 1), Chize (LU 5), Daling (PC 7) on the flexor side and Jianyu (LI 15), Tianjing (TE 10), Yangchi (TE 4) on the extensor muscle side of the affected limb; the electro-stimulation group were treated by electric stimulation. The two groups also were treated with necessary medical treatment and anti-spasm rehabilitation motor training. The course was 3 weeks. Modified Ashworth Scale for muscle spasm (MAS), modified Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) for upper limb motor function, and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) for ability of daily living were used for assessment of the therapeutic effect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, the spasm was significantly alleviated, the motor function of the upper limb and daily living ability were significantly increased (P<0.01) in the two groups; after treatment, BMI scores in the acupuncture group was very significantly superior to that in the electro-stimulation group. The total effective rate was 93.3% in the acupuncture group and 86.7% in the electro-stimulation group, with no significant difference between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Proper acupuncture is an effective method for upper limb spasm in the patient of poststroke, and the therapeutic effect is better for mild-moderate spasm of the upper limb.
authors.affiliation: First People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong 528000, China.
authors.forename: Zi-Mao
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chong-Lian
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Zhou-Kai
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Hui-Qiong
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation