Effect of acupuncture combined with conventional therapies for the patients with post-stroke motor aphasia language function and hemorheology

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with conventional therapies for the patients with post-stroke motor aphasia language function and hemorheology. Methods One hundred and sixty patients with post-stroke motor aphasia language function and hemorheology were divided into 2 groups (80 patients in each group). Conventional therapy with language rehabilitational training and controling of blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid to the normal levels was used inthe control group. Acupuncture treatment on the basis of the control group was used inthe treatment group. The whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity wered tested by the LBY-N6A self-cleaning rotary viscosimeter. Red blood cells deposited was tested by the Winchester points vascular method. The language function and neural function defect scale were detected before and after treatment. Results The total effective rate in the treatment group was 88.8% (71/80), and the control group was 70.0% (56/80). The difference between of two groups was statistically significant (χ2=8.590, P=0.003). After treatment, the needle transmitte nerve function score (5.5 ± 1.6 vs. 7.5 ± 1.5, t=6.893) in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.01). The needle transmitte written (44.7 ± 2.5 vs. 39.1 ± 2.4, t=2.198), retelling ability (47.1 ± 4.4 vs. 35.9 ± 3.6, t=4.433), reading (77.2 ± 7.6 vs. 65.2 + 6.9, t=3.677) and listening comprehension (45.2 ± 2.4 vs. 38.9 ± 2.5, t=2.150) score after treatment were signigicantly higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). The high shear viscosity (2.7 ± 1.0 mPa•s vs. 4.1 ± 1.1 mPa•s, t=4.197), low shear viscosity (13.9 ± 2.0 mPa•s vs. 20.1 ± 2.1 mPa•s, t=3.011) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusions Acupuncture combined with conventional therapy can improve the language function and blood rheologyin the patients with post-stroke motor aphasia. Key words: Stroke; Aphasia, broca; Acupuncture; Integrated Chinese traditional and western medicine therapy; Rehabilitation of speech and language disorders; Hemorheology