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Effects of Interactive Dynamic Scalp Acupuncture on Motor Function and Gait of Lower Limbs after Stroke: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effects of interactive dynamic scalp acupuncture (IDSA), simple combination therapy (SCT), and traditional scalp acupuncture (TSA) on motor function and gait of the lower limbs in post-stroke hemiplegia patients.

Methods

A total of 231 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia was randomly divided into IDSA (78 cases), SCT (78 cases), and TSA (75 cases) groups by a random number table. Scalp acupuncture (SA) and lower-limb robot training (LLRT) were both performed in the IDSA and SCT groups. The patients in the TSA group underwent SA and did not receive LLRT. The treatment was administered once daily and 6 times weekly for 8 continuous weeks, each session lasted for 30 min. The primary outcome measures included Fugl-Meyer assessment of the lower extremity (FMA-LE), berg balance scale (BBS), modified barthel index (MBI), and 6-min walking test (6MWT). The secondary outcome measures included stride frequency (SF), stride length (SL), stride width (SW), affected side foot angle (ASFA), passive range of motion (PROM) of the affected hip (PROM-H), knee (PROM-K) and ankle (PROM-A) joints. The patients were evaluated before treatment, at 1- and 2-month treatment, and 1-, and 2-month follow-up visits, respectively. Adverse events during 2-month treatment were observed.

Results

Nineteen patients withdrew from the trial, with 8 in the IDSA and 5 in the SCT groups, 6 in the TSA group. The FMA-LE, BBS, 6MWT and MBI scores in the IDSA group were significantly increased after 8-week treatment and 2 follow-up visits compared with the SCT and TSA groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with pre-treatment, the grade distribution of BBS and MBI scores in the 3 groups were significantly improved at 1, 2-month treatment and 2 follow-up visits (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The SF, PROM-H, PROM-K and PROM-A in the IDSA group was significantly increased compared with the SCT and TSA groups after 8-week of treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the SCT group, ASFA of the IDSA group was significantly reduced after 8-week of treatment (P<0.05). SF, SL, PROM-K and PROM-A were significantly increased at the 2nd follow-up visit whereas the ASFA was significantly reduced in the IDSA group compared with the SCT groups at 1st follow-up visit (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The SF was significantly increased in the SCT group compared with the TSA group after 8-week treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the TSA group, PROM-K, PROM-A were significantly increased at the 2nd follow-up visit (P<0.05).

Conclusions

The effects of IDSA on lower-limb motor function and walking ability of post-stroke patients were superior to SCT and TSA. The SCT was comparable to TSA treatment, and appeared to be superior in improving the motion range of the lower extremities. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900027206)

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the participants in present study for their participation and valuable feedbacks. as well as the physical therapist at the rehabilitation hospital for performing the conventional training.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation, Dapeng New District Nan’ao People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518121, China

    Shao-hua Zhang, Chun-xia Zhang, Peng Xiao, Qian-feng Li, Wei-rong Liang & Xiao-hua Pan

  2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518037, China

    Yu-long Wang & Ming-chao Zhou

  3. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518034, China

    Chun-ping Zhang

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  1. Shao-hua Zhang
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Contributions

Zhang SH designed the experiment, analyzed and interpreted the data, and drafted the manuscript. Wang YL contributed to the study design. Zhang CX collected and analyzed the data. Zhang CP, Xiao P and Li QF assisted the conduction of the trials and the improvement of the test protocol. Liang WR and Pan XH contributed to the interpretation and revision of manuscript. Zhou M contributed to proofreading the paper. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript for publication.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yu-long Wang.

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Conflict of Interest

All the authors have no possible conflicts of interest.

Supported by Medical Research Fund of Guangdong, China (No. A2020448), Special Fund Support Project for Industrial Development in Dapeng New District, Shenzhen of Guangdong Province, China (No. YL202001-16), Medical and Health Research Fund Project of Medical and Health Group in Dapeng New District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China (No. 2019JTYM003, 2019JTYM004)

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Zhang, Sh., Wang, Yl., Zhang, Cx. et al. Effects of Interactive Dynamic Scalp Acupuncture on Motor Function and Gait of Lower Limbs after Stroke: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 28, 483–491 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-021-3525-0

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