Effects of Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture Combined with Pulmonary Rehabilitation Training on Patients with Hemiplegic after Cerebral Ischemic Stroke

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with pulmonary rehabilitation training on respiratory function, trunk control and motor function of hemiplegic patients after cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS).MethodsA total of 100 hemiplegic patients after CIS who were hospitalized in the Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 2021 to October 2023 were recruited and divided into control group and observation group according to the random number table generated by the SPSS 25.0 software, with 50 cases in each group. During the course of the treatment, six cases in the control group and four cases in the observation group discontinued or dropped out for various reasons, and finally 44 cases and 46 cases were included in the control group and the observation group, respectively. Both groups received basic treatment of western medicine and routine rehabilitation treatment. The control group received conventional pulmonary function training, including external diaphragmatic pacing treatment (30 minutes a time), abdominal breathing training (15 minutes a time), once a day, five days a week for four weeks. The observation group additionally received wrist-ankle acupuncture with the needles retained, once a day, 45 minutes a time, five times a week for four weeks. Before and after treatment, an advanced exercise cardiopulmonary function tester was used to detect the pulmonary ventilation function [forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), maximum peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), maximum minute ventilation volume (MVV)]; an intelligent respiratory endurance training device was used to detect the respiratory muscle strength [maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP)]; the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) was used to evaluate the trunk control ability (dynamic sitting balance, static sitting balance, coordination ability); the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) was used to evaluate motor function; and adverse events (local pain, hematoma, mild bleeding, adhesive tape allergy, etc.) during the treatment period were observed.ResultsCompared with those before treatment, FVC, FEV₁, PEF, MVV, MIP, MEP, dynamic sitting balance score, static sitting balance score, coordination ability score, TIS total score and FMA score in both groups after treatment increased significantly, and the differences were statistically significant (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Compared with the control group, FVC, FEV₁, PEF, MVV, MIP, MEP, dynamic sitting balance score, static sitting balance score, coordination ability score, TIS total score and FMA score in the observation group after treatment increased, and the differences were statistically significant (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). There were no serious adverse events in both groups.ConclusionWrist-ankle acupuncture combined with pulmonary rehabilitation training can improve pulmonary ventilation function, respiratory muscle strength and endurance, trunk control ability and motor function of patients with hemiplegia after CIS, which is recommended for clinical promotion and application.