| Objective: To observe the effectiveness of thumbtack needle embedding combined with standing digital OT training for hemiplegic shoulder pain. Methods: A total of 64 qualified patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain were included and randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 32 patients in each group. Patients in both groups received routine treatments for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. Patients in control group additionally received thumbtack needle embedding therapy on the main acupoints, including Jianzhen, Naoshu, Tianzong, Bingfeng, Quyuan, Jianwaishu and Jianzhongshu, and associated acupoints including Hegu, Zhongzhu and Houxi on the affected limb. The needles were embedded for 4 h, once a day. Patients in the observation group also received 20 min of standing digital OT training based on the treatment of the control group once a day. The measurements were as follows: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for the level of shoulder pain; Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper limb (FMA-UE) for the motor function of upper limb; Modified Barthel Index (MBI) for the ability of daily activities. Results: As compared with the scores before treatment, the VAS scores in two groups were significantly decreased, and the FMA-UE score and MBI score were significantly increased after 4 weeks (P<0.05). As compared with the control group, after a 4-week treatment, the VAS score in the observation group was significantly decreased, and the FMA-UE score and MBI score were significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Thumbtack needle embedding combined with standing digital OT training can effectively relieve shoulder pain, and improve the motor function of upper limb and the ability of daily activities in patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain. |
