Effect of quick acupuncture combined with rehabilitation therapy on improving motor and swallowing function in patients with stroke.

Objective: To investigate the effect of quick acupuncture combined with rehabilitation therapy on motor and swallowing function of patients with stroke.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: Single center study.

Participants: One hundred and twenty patients with stroke were divided into control and observation group based on the therapeutic regimen.

Intervention: Control group (n = 60) only received rehabilitation therapy, and observation group (n = 60) received rehabilitation therapy combined with quick acupuncture. Acupuncture was performed once a day, and 6 times/week for 4 consecutive weeks.

Main measures: The simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment scale and Barthel index were used to assess limb motor function and daily living ability. The Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale and Swallowing Quality of Life questionnaire were conducted to estimate the dysphagia severity and life quality of patients with swallowing disorders. The therapeutic efficacy and complications after treatment were analyzed and counted.

Results: After treatment, the scores of the observation group were significantly improved compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In the observation group, the therapeutic efficacy was 93% (n = 56); the complication rate was 5% (n = 3); the therapeutic efficacy of the control group was 75% (n = 45); and the complication rate was 25% (n = 15), indicating that the therapeutic efficacy of the observation group is better and the incidence of complications is lower than that of the control group.

Conclusion: This study suggests that rehabilitation therapy combined with rapid acupuncture therapy has a potential therapeutic effect on the relief of swallowing and motor dysfunction after stroke.