Effect of Jingjin acupuncture combined with intermittent θ-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation on increased hand muscle tone in stroke patients during spastic phase

ZHANG Yongqing; WEI Xinchun; ZHANG Dadong; LU Qian; CHU Minmin; XIONG Bin; ZHOU Yun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-266X.2026.02.002

Abstract：Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of the Jingjin(muscle region of the meridian,sinew/ten-don/fascia)acupuncture therapy combined with intermittent θ-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation(iTBS)on increased hand muscle tone in stroke patients during the spastic phase.Methods Sixty patients in the spastic phase after stroke were selected and divided into three groups using a random number table,with 20 in each:the conventional group,the iT-BS group,and the combined group.Patients in all groups received conventional rehabilitation training.In addition,pa-tients in the iTBS group received iTBS treatment on the primary motor cortex of the affected side,and patients in the com-bined group received Jingjin acupuncture therapy in addition to the iTBS treatment.Assessments were conducted before treatment(T0),immediately after treatment(T1),and during short-term follow-up(T2)using the Modified Ashworth Scale(MAS)to evaluate hand muscle tone,the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity(FMA-UE)to evaluate upper limb motor function,the Modified Barthel Index(MBI)to assess activities of daily living,and motor evoked potentials(MEP)to evaluate the functional status of central motor pathways and changes in cortical excitability.Results Compared with those at T0 in the same group,the MEP values,FMA-UE scores,and MBI scores of all groups at T1 and T2 increased,while MAS scores decreased(all P<0.05).At T1 and T2,the MEP values,FMA-UE scores,and MBI scores of the combined group and iTBS group were higher than those of the conventional group,while MAS scores were lower than those of the con-ventional group;moreover,the MEP values,FMA-UE scores,and MBI scores of the combined group were higher than those of the iTBS group,and MAS scores were lower than those of the iTBS group(all P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in any indicators among the groups at the T0 time point(all P>0.05).Conclusion The Jingjin acupuncture combined with iTBS can effectively reduce hand muscle tone in patients during the spastic phase of stroke,and improve hand motor function and daily living abilities;its underlying mechanism may be associated with the facilitation of functional recovery in the central motor pathway and the restoration of cerebral cortex excitability on the affected side.