Observation on the Effect of Warm Acupuncture Combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine Hot Compress in the Treatment of Poststroke Muscle Tone Increase

Abstract

Objective

This study aims to explore the therapeutic effect of warm acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine hot compress in patients with increased muscle tone (MT) after cerebral stroke (CS).

Methods

A total of 80 patients with increased MT after CS who were admitted to the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningbo Yinzhou No. 2 Hospital from June 2020 to June 2023 were included as research subjects. They were divided into an observation group (40 cases, TCM hot compress + warm acupuncture) and a control group (40 cases, TCM hot compress) using a random number table method. The clinical efficacy, simplified Fugl–Meyer Assessment (FMA) score, modified Ashworth scale (MAS) score, quality of life (QOL), activity of daily living, and serum inflammatory factor levels of the two groups were compared.

Results

The total effective rate of the observation group (97.50%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (80.00%) (p < 0.05); the MAS scores, IL-6, TNF-α, and hs-CRP levels of patients in both groups were significantly decreased, while FMA scores, Barthel index, and QOL scores were significantly increased, with the observation group superior to the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Warm acupuncture combined with TCM hot compress had a significant therapeutic effect on patients with increased MT after CS, improving patients’ quality of life and survival ability.

Keywords

warm acupuncture TCM hot compress cerebral stroke increased muscle tone efficacy

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