Scalp cluster acupuncture combined with constraint-induced movement therapy improves functional recovery after ischemic stroke

Abstract

Objective To compare the effect of clustered acupuncture of the scalp combined with constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) with that of conventional acupuncture of the body points plus conventional rehabilitation intervention after cerebral infarction using blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI). Methods Thirty acute cerebral infarction patients with hemiplegia were equally divided into two groups at random. The test group received the clustered acupuncture of the scalp combined with CIMT, while the control group received the body point acupuncture plus conventional rehabilitation intervention. Before and after two weeks of treatment, blood oxygenation level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 T was performed during a passive digital opposition movement. The volume and intensity of the activated areas were compared. Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) was carried out as well. Results The most pronounced activation appeared in the contralateral somatosensory motor cortex for both groups. There was no significant difference in average FMA scores between the two groups before the treatment, but after the treatment the averages were significantly different. An increase in activated volume and intensity in the contralateral SMC was observed in both groups after the treatment, but the test group showed a much larger change in both activated volume and intensity. Conclusion The clustered acupuncture of the scalp combined with CIMT can achieve a more significant improvement in functional recovery after acute cerebral infarction than conventional acupuncture of the body points plus conventional rehabilitation intervention. Such combined therapy is worthy of application in clinical practice. Key words: Scalp; Acupuncture; Constraint-induced movement therapy; Functional MRI; Cerebral infarction