Moxibustion plus Acupuncture for the Treatment of Poststroke Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: In China, 45% of stroke patients suffer from poststroke shoulder pain, which brings about many obstacles to further rehabilitation. To date, there have been a few studies evaluating the effects of acupuncture or massage in treating poststroke shoulder pain, and good effects have been shown. However, better clinical treatments are still needed. Objective: To explore a more effective treatment for poststroke shoulder pain, the clinical effects of moxibustion plus acupuncture were assessed. Methods: Sixty patients were randomly divided into the control and intervention groups. The control group received a standard stroke treatment protocol including acupuncture, and the intervention group was given moxibustion combined with acupuncture. The visual analogue scale (VAS), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugl-Meyer motor assessment, Barthel Index, and 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) were applied, and differences were analyzed. Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, compared with the control group, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvement in Fugl-Meyer motor assessment and HAMD-17 (both p < 0.01) as well as in the VAS, NIHSS, and Barthel Index (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion plus acupuncture treatment can alleviate poststroke shoulder pain, improve upper limb motor function and the ability to perform activities of daily living, and relieve patients’ depression.