Comparative efficiency of various accupucture methods in early rehabilitation of patients after ischemic stroke

Three hundred and thirty patients aged 3579 years, who underwent early rehabilitation in the primary vascular department, participated in a randomized controlled trial. In 220 patients (the main group of the study), non-drug rehabilitation (in the form of a combination of physiotherapy and exercise therapy) was optimized using various reflex therapy methods. The effectiveness of including them in rehabilitation schemes was analyzed in seven subgroups. One hundred and ten patients (the comparison group) underwent comprehensive non-drug rehabilitation without the inclusion of reflex therapy. The effectiveness of rehabilitation measures was evaluated by assessing dynamics (on the first day and after two weeks) according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Barthel index, Beck questionnaires (level of depression), Spielberger-Hanin (level of reactive anxiety), and the Motivation for Success and Motivation for Fear of Failure (level of motivation) questionnaire tests. The best indicators on almost all scales were obtained in groups where patients underwent combined reflex therapy techniques: dynamic electroneurostimulation (DENS) in combination with classical acupuncture, su jok therapy in combination with classical, auricular acupuncture and craniopuncture, and prolonged craniopuncture in combination with corporal and auricular acupuncture. Indicators were slightly lower in the cases when separate methods were applied: DENS or su jok, and in subgroups where corporal and auricular acupuncture were combined with craniopuncture (according to the methodology of Professor Yu Zhi Shun, China), or craniopuncture according to classical methodology. The lowest indicators were in the group of patients who did not use methods of reflex therapy. This study confirmed the need to integrate acupuncture techniques in the schemes of early neurorehabilitation schemes of post-stroke patients for whom combined technologies are most effective.