Clinical effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation therapy in the treatment of shoulder-hand syndrome after ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVE: To explore and analyze the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation in the treatment of shoulder-hand syndrome after ischemic stroke. METHODS: A total of 120 cases of ischemic stroke admitted to First Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine from April 2019 to April 2021 were selected and divided into control group and observation group by random number table method, with 60 cases in each group. The control group was given routine rehabilitation treatment, and the observation group was additionally given acupuncture treatment on the basis of the control group. Both groups were given four courses of treatment continuously for one course per week. The clinical efficacy, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, swelling degree score, simplified upper limb Fugl-Meyer motor scale (FMA) score, serum calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) content, and substance P (SP) content before and after treatment were compared between the two groups, and the safety grade during treatment was observed. RESULTS: The cure effective rate of the observation group was higher than the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, VAS and swelling degree scores in both groups were lower than before treatment, FMA score was higher than before treatment, serum CGRP and SP contents were lower than before treatment. VAS and swelling degree scores of the observation group were lower than the control group, FMA score was higher than the control group, serum CGRP and SP contents were lower than the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The safety rating of both groups during treatment was grade one, 60 cases in each group, accounting for 100.00%. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with rehabilitation in the treatment of shoulder-hand syndrome after ischemic stroke has a significant clinical effect, which can improve the pain and swelling, promote the improvement of upper limb motor function, and inhibit the release of serum CGRP and SP, with high safety during the treatment;