title: [Effects of different acupuncture treatment on mean blood flow velocity of middle cerebral artery on the affected side and rehabilitation of hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of two different acupuncture treatment on cerebral blood flow velocity and early rehabilitation of hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients were randomly divided into an alternate acupuncture group (n = 40) and a routine acupuncture group (n = 40). Both of the groups were treated with routine neurology medicine and application of good limb position combined with acupuncture. The patients in the alternate acupuncture group were treated by opposing needling and non-opposing needling, i. e. acupuncture at acupoints on both the healthy and affected sides alternately, twice each day, respectively. The routine acupuncture group was treated by acupuncture at the affected side, once daily. Scores of Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) were evaluated before and after treatment in the two groups, and the mean blood flow velocity of middle cerebral artery (MCA) on the affected side was monitored during two different acupuncture treatment by using Transcranial Doppler (TCD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cured and markedly effective rate was 65.0% in the alternate acupuncture group and 37.5% in the routine acupuncture group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). After treatment, the SSS score in the alternate acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.01). The mean blood flow velocity of MCA during two different acupuncture treatment was both decreased significantly (both P < 0.05) and the mean blood flow velocity of MCA before the last treatment was decreased significantly in the alternate acupuncture group than those in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The therapeutic effect of the alternate acupuncture program for hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction is superior to that of the routine acupuncture program. It is suggested that the mechanism of acupuncture in treating hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction is to dilate cerebral blood vessels and improve cerebral perfusion.
authors.affiliation: Hubei College of TCM, Wuhan 430065, China. leilongming@126.com
authors.forename: Long-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yue-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Ben-Hua
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jin-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Sheng-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Hong-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged