title: The balance effect of acupuncture therapy among stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze how acupuncture therapy affects balance in patients experiencing their first stroke and to identify the stroke group with greatest improvement in balance after acupuncture intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ward of a medical university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 629 stroke patients were enrolled initially; 345 patients met the study criteria and 132 were analyzed (66 each in the study and control groups).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group received physiotherapy combined with acupuncture and the control group received only physiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke patients (PASS) was used to evaluate balance. This balance scale system can be subdivided into static balance (PASS-MP, maintain posture) and dynamic balance (PASS-CP, change posture).
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study revealed no statistically significant improvement of balance in the study group (t test). When patients with high Brunnstrom stage (Br stage) and low Br stage were analyzed separately, once again no statistical difference was detected between the study and control groups of those with high Br stage. However, among low-Br stage patients, the study group showed significant improvement in static balance (mean PASS-MP score±standard deviation: 4.7±3.7) compared with the control group (PASS-MP score: 2.8±2.7) (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In first-ever stroke patients with a low Br stage, acupuncture therapy can improve static balance during rehabilitation. However, the effect on balance was limited among high-Br stage patients. This study provides information valuable to patients with hemiplegic stroke because it suggests that acupuncture can be used to improve balance. A prospective double-blind, randomized, controlled study design is recommended for future studies in patients with hemiplegic stroke.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University , Taipei, Taiwan .
authors.forename: Shih-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wei-Te
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tsung-Hsien
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tsan-Hon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Guan-Yu
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-Fong
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation