[Post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome treated with acupuncture and rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical efficacy on post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) treated with acupuncture and rehabilitation and the impacts on patients' nailfold microcirculation.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty patients were randomized into an acupuncture rehabilitation group and a simple rehabilitation group, 60 cases in each one. In the simple rehabilitation group, OT (comprehensive rehabilitation therapy) training was adopted. In the acupuncture rehabilitation group, on the basis of the treatment as the simple rehabilitation, acu puncture was added at Taiyuan (LU 9), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Waiguan (TE 5), Shousanli (LI 10), Quchi (LI 11) and Jianyu (LI 15). Acupuncture was given once a day, 7 days made one session. Totally, 4 sessions of treatment were required. Fugl-Meyer score, upper limb pain score, the score of nerve function defect and the items of nailfold microcirculation of patients were assessed in the the two groups before and after treatment. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
(1) The upper limb pain, the systematic motor function of the upper limbs, the nerve function defect, nailfold microcirculation and clinical symptoms were all improved after treatment in either the acupuncture rehabilitation group or the simple rehabilitation group as compared with those before treatment, indicating the significant difference (P<0. 05, P<0. 01). (2) The im provements in the upper limb pain (0. 90+/-0.71 vs 1. 80+/-0. 66), the systematic motor function of the upper limbs (42. 43 13. 57 vs 29. 98+/-15. 11), the nerve function defect (8. 60+/-11. 61 vs 13. 0+/-1. 74), nailfold microcirculation (total score 3. 18+/-1.32 vs 4.34+/-1.23) and clinical symptoms in the acupuncture rehabilitation group after treatment were different significantly as compared with those in the simple rehabilitation group (PO0. 05,P-O. 01), and the results in the acupuncture rehabilitation group were superior to the simple rehabilitation group. (3) In the acupuncture rehabilitation group, the markedly effective rate was 50. 0% (30/60) and the total effective rate was 93.3% (56/60), which was better than 16.7% (10/60) and 63. 3% (38/60) respectively in the simple rehabilitation group (all P<0. 05).


CONCLUSIONS
Both the combined therapy of acupuncture and rehabilitation and the simple rehabilitation training are effective in the treatment of post-stroke SHS, and promote the status of nailfold microcirculation, the efficacy of the combined therapy is better than that of the latter.
Xiamen Municipal Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Fujian University of TCM Xiamen 361009 China. xmtcmwwr@126.com
Wen-Rong
WR
Wan
Sanya Municipal Hospital of T C M of Hainan Province, China.
Tian-Lei
TL
Wang
Xiamen Municipal Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Fujian University of TCM Xiamen 361009 China.
Shao-Lu
SL
Cheng
Xiamen Municipal Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Fujian University of TCM Xiamen 361009 China.
Yin-Long
YL
Zhao
Xiamen Municipal Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Fujian University of TCM Xiamen 361009 China.
Wei
W
Zhang
Xiamen Municipal Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Fujian University of TCM Xiamen 361009 China.
Qiu-Yan
QY
Wu
Xiamen Municipal Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Fujian University of TCM Xiamen 361009 China.
Hai-peng
HP
Jin
Xiamen Municipal Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Fujian University of TCM Xiamen 361009 China.
Xiu-Yu
XY
Hong
Xiamen Municipal Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Fujian University of TCM Xiamen 361009 China.
Ying-Xia
YX
Li
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome