Observation on the efficacy of key muscle motor point acupuncture combined with exercise training in patients with spinal cord injury

YUERIGULI·Aiweila; SONG Ningze; SHANG Shuai; CUI Liru; WANG Hanming

doi:10.11958/20252035

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture at key muscle movement points combined with exercise training on neurophysiological indicators,muscle tone and quality of life in patients with spinal cord injury(SCI).Methods Eighty SCI patients admitted to the Rehabilitation Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from September 2022 to June 2024 were selected.Patients were divided into the control group(receiving routine acupuncture combined with exercise training,40 cases)and the observation group(receiving acupuncture combined with exercise training at key muscle movement points,40 cases)according to the random number table method.The neurophysiological indicators[motor nerve conduction velocity(MNCV),sensory nerve conduction velocity(SNCV)],limb function[Fugl-Meyer Assessment(FMA),Modified Ashworth Scale(MAS)]and quality of life[Barthel index,functional independence measure(FIM)]were compared between the two groups.Results After intervention,the MNCV and SNCV of median nerve,ulnar nerve,tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve were increased in the observation group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).After intervention,there were higher FMA scores,Barthel index and FIM scores in the observation group than those of the control group,while the MAS score was lower than that of the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at key muscle movement points combined with exercise training can effectively improve the neuroelectrophysiological indicators,limb functions and quality of life of SCI patients,which is feasible rehabilitation intervention program.