Combined Application Of Electro-acupuncture And Tizanidine In Treating Muscle Spasticity Following Spinal Cord Injury

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of electro-acupuncture combined with tizanidine in treating muscle spasticity following spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods:75 muscle spasticity patients following SCI who were treated in Fuzhou Genernal Hospital of Nanjing Military Command from Novemeber 2013 to December 2014. All patients were randomly divided into 3 groups:treatment group, control group 1 and control group 2. The treatment group was received electro-acupuncture and tizanidine. The control group 1 was received electro-acupuncture. The control group 2 was received tizanidine. Electro-acupuncture treatment was given 6 days a week, lasted for 4 weeks. Tizanidine treatment was given 2mg,3 time a day, lasted for 4 weeks. Impairment of spasm was evaluated with modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and clinic spasticity index (CSI), the changes of the activities of daily living (ADL) with modified Barthel index (MBI). All data were analysed under the SPSS 17.0.Results:1. Compared to the baseline:There was no significant difference of age, sex, degree of spinal cord injury and injury segment of spasticity following spinal cord injury before the treatment (P>0.05).2. Modified Ashworth scale (MAS):The MAS scores before treatment were (2.96±0.68), (2.94±0.61), (2.98±0.60) respectively. After four weeks of treatment, the MAS scores were (1.27±0.31), (1.62±0.39), (2.12±0.46) respectively. Compared of that pre-treatment, the MAS scores of post-treatment were obviously decreased (P<0.05). And the MAS scores in treatment group better than that in control group 1 and control group 2 (P<0.05).3. Clinical spasticity index (CSI):The CSI scores before treatment were (14.29±0.40), (14.26±0.56), (14.41±0.45) respectively. After four weeks of treatment, the CSI scores were (8.16±0.51), (11.56±0.57), (12.06±0.48) respectively. Compared of that pre-treatment, the CSI scores of post-treatment were obviously decreased (P<0.05). And the CSI scores in treatment group better than that in control group 1 and control group 2 (P<0.05).4. Modified Barthel index (MBI):The MBI scores before treatment were (48.80±6.49), (46.20±6.15), (47.19 ±5.59) respectively. After four weeks of treatment, the MBI scores were (69.81 ±5.67), (59.59±5.58), (58.24±6.10) respectively. Compared of that pre-treatment, the MBI scores of post-treatment were obviously decreased (P<0.05). And the MBI scores in treatment group better than that in control group 1 and control group 2 (P<0.05).5. Clinical efficacy:After four weeks of treatment, the effective rate was 88.0% in treatment group, the effective rate was 60.0% in control group 1, and the effective rate was 56.0% in control group 2. The treatment group was higher than control group 1 and control group 2, and the difference was significant (P<0.05).Conclusions:The electro-acupuncture combined with tizanidine treatment, the electro-acupuncture treatment and the tizanidine treatment all can relieve spasticity degree. The electro-acupuncture combined with tizanidine treatment can effectively relieve painand improve the quality of life. It was an effective method in treating muscle spasticity following spinal cord injury.