Exploring the Effect of Abdominal Baixiao Moxibustion on Lower Limb Motor Function in Stroke Patients Based on the 'Brain-Gut Axis' Theory

doi:10.12104/j.issn.1674-4748.2025.11.020

Abstract：Objective: To explore the effect of abdominal baixiao moxibustion on the lower limb spasticity, lower limb motor function, and quality of life in patients with spastic hemiplegia after stroke based on the 'brain-gut axis' theory. Methods: A total of 68 patients were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group, each with 34 cases. Both groups received routine neurological care, basic treatment, and limb rehabilitation training. On this basis, the experimental group received abdominal baixiao moxibustion treatment guided by the 'brain-gut axis' theory for four consecutive weeks. The improvement in lower limb spasticity, clinical efficacy, lower limb motor function, and quality of life of the two groups were observed. Results: After four weeks of intervention, the lower limb spasticity of both groups improved compared to before the intervention, with the experimental group showing a better improvement (P < 0.01). There was a statistically significant time effect on lower limb spasticity in both groups (P < 0.01). The effective rate of clinical efficacy in the experimental group was 85.29%, which was better than that of the control group at 47.06% (P < 0.05). After four weeks of intervention, the lower limb motor function of the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group (P < 0.05), and there was a statistically significant interaction between time effect and group effect on lower limb motor function (P < 0.01). After four weeks of intervention, the quality of life score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Under the guidance of the 'brain-gut axis' theory, abdominal baixiao moxibustion can effectively improve the degree of lower limb spasticity, has good therapeutic effects, enhances lower limb motor function, and improves the quality of life of patients, with good safety.