2014-10-01 11:04:00
A recent retrospective case-control study was published that examined the use of acupuncture in stroke patients [1]. The baseline treatment was physiotherapy, while the acupuncture group received both physiotherapy and acupuncture. A total of 132 patients were analyzed. The authors used outcome measures that included the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS) to evaluate balance. It was subdivided into static balance (maintaining posture) and dynamic balance (changing posture). The results showed that there were no statistically significant improvement of balance in the study group. However, when patients with low Brunnstrom stage were analyzed, they showed a significant improvement in static balance. The Brunnstrom stages follows six stages of sequential motor recovery (after a stroke). Patients can plateau at any stage, but generally follow the sequence during their recovery. The authors conclude that with low Brunnstrom stage stroke patients, acupuncture therapy can improve static balance during rehabilitation. However, the effect was limited on high Brunnstrom stage patients. The study is valuable because it can help hemiplegic stroke patients.
References
1) Huang SW, Wang WT, Yang TH, Liou TH, Chen GY, Lin LF. The balance effect of acupuncture therapy among stroke patients. J Altern Complement Med. 2014;20(8):618-22.