Controlled observation of posthemiplegic omalgia treated by acupuncture-moxibustion and rehabilitation

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy difference between the acupuncture-moxibustion therapy for tonifying the primary and strengthening the shoulder and the rehabilitation therapy in the treatment of posthemiplegic omalgia (PO).MethodsFifty-six cases of PO were randomized into an acupuncture-moxibustion group (30 cases) and a rehabilitation group (26 cases). In the acupuncture-moxibustion group, the mild moxibustion with moxa stick was applied to Guānyuán ( CV 4), Qìhi ( CV 6) and Zúsānl ( ST 36) and acupuncture was applied to Jiānzhēn ( SI 9), Nàoshū ( SI 10), Qūchí ( LI 11). etc. In the rehabilitation group, the conventional rehabilitation therapy was provided, including massaging local tissues, anti-cramping activity, etc. In both groups, the treatment was given once per day, 15 treatments made one session and two sessions were required totally. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and clinical neurologic impairment scale were adopted as the observation indicators for the evaluation of the analgesic effect and functional effect before and 30 days after treatment separately.ResultsThe total analgesic effective rate was 100.0% (30/30) in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and was 96.2% (25/26) in the rehabilitation group, without presenting the statistical significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). VAS scores were all reduced significantly after treatment in both groups as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01), but the comparison of the D-values before and after treatment did not reach the statistical significance between two groups (P>0.05). The scores of FMA and the clinical neurologic impairment scale were all improved significantly after treatment in both groups (all P<0.01). The improvements in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were superior to the rehabilitation group (all P<0.01).ConclusionBoth therapies can achieve the analgesic effect on PO. The recovery of the motor and neurological functions after the impairment of the affected upper limb is superior in the treatment with the acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for tonifying the primary and strengthening the shoulder as compared with the rehabilitation therapy.