Clinical observation of electroacupuncture at the five shu points of the hand yangming meridian for post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture at the five shu points of the hand yangming meridian on post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome. METHODS: In this study 72 patients were observed and, according to the principle of random sampling, divided into two groups: 36 cases in the treatment group received electroacupuncture and rehabilitation therapy, and 36 cases in the control group received rehabilitation therapy. The simplified Fugl-Meyer motor function score and a functional pain scale were used to rate upper-limb motor function, pain and other aspects in the treatment and control groups before and after treatment, in order to observe the effectiveness of the treatment protocol. RESULTS: 1. After two courses of treatment, both the treatment and control groups significantly improved the Fugl-Meyer motor function score, with highly significant within-group differences (P<0.01). Before treatment the between-group comparison showed P>0.05, no significant difference; after treatment the between-group comparison showed P<0.01. This indicates that the treatment group was superior to the control group for Fugl-Meyer upper-limb motor function. 2. Both groups significantly reduced the functional pain score after treatment, with highly significant within-group differences (P<0.01). Before treatment the between-group comparison showed P>0.05, no significant difference; after treatment P<0.01. This indicates that the treatment group was superior to the control group in pain relief. 3. The treatment group had a definite effect on shoulder-hand syndrome, with a total effective rate of 100%, versus 88.9% in the control group; the difference between groups after treatment was significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at the five shu points of the hand yangming meridian for post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome has a definite effect, is simple to perform, and is suitable for clinical use.