Clinical Study on Yiqi Huoxue Acupuncture Combined with Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Hemiplegia After Ischemic Stroke of Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis Type
Abstract: Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Yiqi Huoxue acupuncture combined with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on patients with hemiplegia after ischemic stroke (IS) of qi deficiency and blood stasis type. Methods: A total of 92 cases of patients with hemiplegia after IS of qi deficiency and blood stasis type, who were treated at Zhoushan City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2022 to January 2024 were selected and divided into the treatment group and the control group according to the random number table method, with 46 cases in each group. The control group received rTMS treatment, and the treatment group was additionally treated with Yiqi Huoxue acupuncture based on the treatment of the control group. Both groups were treated for eight weeks. Clinical effects,traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores,National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scores, and gait parameters (walking speed, stride length, stride frequency, single support phase on the affected side, and double support phase) were compared between the two groups. Results:After eight weeks of treatment,the total effective rate was 93.18% (41/44) in the treatment group,higher than that of 77.27% (34/44) in the control group,the difference being significant (P<0.05). The primary and secondary symptom scores and the total scores of TCM in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment,and the primary and secondary symptom scores and the total score of TCM in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group,differences being significant (P<0.05). The NIHSS scores in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment, and scores of Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity( FMA-UE) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity( FMA-LE) were increased when compared with those before treatment, differences being significant (P<0.05); the treatment group had lower NIHSS scores and higher FMA-UE and FMA-LE scores compared to the control group, differences being significant (P<0.05). The walking speed and stride frequency in the two groups were increased,the stride length was increased,and the single support phase and double support phase on the affected side were decreased when compared with those before treatment, differences being significant (P<0.05). The treatment group had higher walking speed and stride frequency, longer stride length, and lower single support phase and double support phase on the affected side compared to the control group, differences being significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared to rTMS treatment alone, Yiqi Huoxue acupuncture combined with rTMS for hemiplegia after IS of qi deficiency and blood stasis type can increase the curative effect,further alleviate clinical symptoms,reduce the degree of neurological deficits,improve limb function and gait, and enhance patients' walking ability.