• Zhiqiang Huang, Ning Zhao, Zhaoyuan Su, Jiafu Su, and Qiang Wu.
• Fujian University of TCM, Fuzhou 350122, China; Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Quanzhou Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Fujian University of TCM, Quanzhou 362000.
• Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2018 Feb 12; 38 (2): 119-25.

ObjectiveBased on rehabilitation training, to observe the clinical effect difference between pricking combined with cupping and western medication for elbow flexion spasticity of upper limb of stroke patients.MethodsSixty patients were randomly assigned by SPSS software random number generator into a comprehension group and a western medication group, 30 cases in each one. Rehabilitation was used in the two groups. Pricking and cupping were applied at the affected abdominal center of biceps brachii muscle on Tuesday and Friday continuously for 4 weeks in the comprehensive group. Baclofen was prescribed orally continuously for 4 weeks, once 10 mg and 3 times a day in the western medication group. The indexes were observed before and after 4-week treatment as well as at immediate treatment, immediately after the first treatment in the comprehension group and 24 h after treatment in the western medication group, including the affected elbow joint activity, modified Ashworth scale (MAS), simple Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), integrated electromyogram (IEMG) of the affected biceps brachii and triceps brachii. The clinical effects were evaluated.ResultsAfter treatment, the elbow joint activity in the two groups was improved compared with that before treatment (both P ＜0.05), with better result in the comprehension group (P ＜0.05). There was no statistical significance for MAS and FMA scores at immediate treatment between the two groups (both P ＞0.05). After treatment, the MAS score decreased and the FMA score increased in the two groups (both P＜0.05), with better results in the comprehension group (both P ＜0.05). At immediate treatment and after treatment, biceps brachii IEMG decreased in the two groups (all P ＜0.05). The biceps brachii IEMG in the comprehension group at the immediate treatment was higher and that after treatment was lower compared with those in the western medication group (both P ＜0.05). The triceps brachii IEMG at immediate treatment was not statistically different from that before treatment in the comprehension group (P ＞0.05) and that in the western medication group decreased (P＜0.05). After treatment, the triceps brachii IEMG increased in the two groups (both P ＜0.05), with higher IEMG in the comprehension group (P ＜0.05). The total effective rate was 83.3% (25/30) in the comprehensive group, which was higher than 60.0% (18/30) in the western medication group (P ＜0.05). .ConclusionPricking and cupping combined with rehabilitation training can reduce the IEMG of the biceps brachii muscle in patients with stroke, and improve the spasticity and motor function.

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