Effects of Tongdu Yishen Acupuncture Therapy Combined with Robot-Guided Training on Upper Limb Dysfunction After Stroke

<bold>Objective</bold>To evaluate the effects of Tongdu Yishen acupuncture therapy combined with robot-guided training on upper limb dysfunction in patients following stroke.<bold>Methods</bold>A total of 96 patients with upper limb motor dysfunction following stroke treated in the Rehabilitation Department of Binzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from January 2023 to February 2024 were enrolled. All participants were randomly divided into acupuncture group, robot group and combined group, with 32 cases in each group. The acupuncture group received Tongdu Yishen acupuncture therapy with needle retention in addition to the basic drug treatment and conventional rehabilitation training, once a day, five times a week, for a total of four weeks. The robot group received robot-guided training in addition to the basic drug treatment and conventional rehabilitation training, once a day, 20 minutes a time, five times a week, for a total of four weeks. The combined group received the Tongdu Yishen acupuncture therapy combined with robot-guided training, with the same acupuncture intervention as the acupuncture group and the same robot training as the robot group, for a total of four weeks. Before and after treatment, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) were used to assess the the upper limb motor function. The Box and Block Test (BBT) was used to assess the hand motor function. The Modified Barthel Index (MBI) was used to assess activities of daily living.<bold>Results</bold>(1) FMA-UE score: compared with those before treatment, the FMA-UE scores of all three groups significantly increased after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Compared with the acupuncture group and the robot group, the FMA-UE scores of the combined group were significantly higher after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). (2) WMFT score: compared with those before treatment, the WMFT scores of all three groups significantly increased after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Compared with the acupuncture group and the robot group, the WMFT scores of the combined group were significantly higher after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). (3) MBI and BBT scores: compared with those before treatment, the MBI and BBT scores of all three groups significantly increased after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Compared with the acupuncture group and the robot group, the MBI and BBT scores of the combined group were significantly higher after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05).<bold>Conclusion</bold>The Tongdu Yishen acupuncture therapy combined with robot-guided training can effectively improve the upper limb motor function, hand function and activities of daily living of stroke patients.