Clinical Oberservation On Lower Limb Spasticity After Stroke By Acupuncture Points On Antagonistic Muscle

Objective:To observe the therapeutic efficacy on lower limb of spasticity afterstroke by acupuncture points on antagonistic muscle. To look for a kind of moreeffective acupuncture method.Methods:40 patients were randomly divided into two groups, treatment group andcontrol group. There were 20 patients in each group. Patients in the control groupwere treated by traditional acupuncture combined with the routine functiontraining methods, while those in the treatment group treated by acupuncturepoints on antagonistic muscle combined with the routine function training. Allpatients were assessed before and after training period. The evaluating itemsinclude: Surface electromyography recode the integrated electromyogram(IEMG)and Co-contraction ratio during maximum isometric voluntary contraction(MIVC)of the ankle dorsi-flexion and knee-flexion, Clinical spasticity index (CSI)score for spasticity, Fugl-Meyer measurement for the motor function, Barthelindex scales for ability of daily life.Results:(1)After the treatment, during maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC)of the ankle dorsi-flexion and knee-flexion in the control group, the IEMG ofquadriceps femoris and gastrocnemius muscle were all decreased, sartorius muscleand tibialis anterior muscle were all increased, Co-contraction ratio were alldecreased (P＜0.05). And there wash't significant difference except the IEMG of tibialis anterior muscle.(2)There was significant difference of the decreasing degree of thespasticity scores of lower limb (P＜0.05), and there was difference of theincreasing degree of motor function,walking functions,ability of daily lifein both two groups before and after training period (P＜0.05).(3)There was significant difference(P＜0.05)of the spasticity scores of lowerlimb,motor function,walking functions,ability of daily life between the twogroups after treatment. The treatment group was better than the control group.(4)Significant negative relationships were found among the spasticityscores of lower limb,the motor function,walking functions,ability of dailylife after training in the both groups (P＜0.01).Conclusion:(1)Acupuncture points on antagonistic muscle can reduce the muscular tensionofspastic muscle, improve the muscular tension of antagonistic muscle, correctabnormality of cooperativity of agonistic muscle and antagonistic muscle.(2)For alleviating spasticity of lower limb, improving the motor functionand ability of daily life of the stroke patients, the acupuncture points onantagonistic muscle is more effective than traditional acupuncture.(3)There were Significant relationships among the spasticity scores oflower limb,the motor function,walking functions and ability of daily lifeof the stroke patients, lt indicated alleviating spasticity of lower limb isbenefit to the motor function,walking function and ability of daily life ofthe stroke patients.