title: [Immediate effects of twirling reinforcing-reducing manipulation at head acupoints on muscle force in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a randomized controlled trial].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe differences of immediate effect of twirling reinforcing-reducing manipulation at head acupoints on muscle force in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 126 patients who met the inclusive criteria were randomly divided into a twirling reinforcing group, a mild reinforcing-reducing group and a twirling reducing group, 42 cases in each one. The lines between Baihui (GV 20) and bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN 5) were selected and treated with successive insertion of three needles. The twirling reinforcing method was used in the twirling reinforcing group, and mild reinforcing-reducing method was used in the mild reinforcing- reducing group, and twirling reducing method was used in the twirling reducing group. Each needle was manipulated for 1 min, which was repeated once every 10 min. The needles were retained for 30 min. Muscle force was evaluated immediately after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Muscle force of upper limb: after acupuncture, the muscle force of proximal and remote ends were all improved significantly in three groups (all P < 0.05), which was more obvious in proximal end (all P < 0.05). The improvement of the muscle force of proximal end in the twirling reinforcing group was superior to those in the mild reinforcing-reducing group and twirling reducing group (both P < 0.05); the differences of the muscle force of remote end were not significant among three groups (all P > 0.05). (2) Muscle force of lower limb: after acupuncture, the muscle force of proximal and remote ends was all improved significantly in the three groups (all P < 0.05). The improvement of the muscle force of proximal end was superior to that of remote end in the twirling reinforcing group and mild reinforcing-reducing group (both P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The twirling reinforcing manipulation at head acupoints is superior to mild reinforcing-reducing and twirling reducing manipulation for muscle force in patients with acute ischemic stroke, which is more significant in proximal end of limbs.
authors.forename: Xiaozheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Jinhai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chunling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Zhihua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Guirong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology