Low-frequency Electrical Stimulation of Acupuncture Points

Xue Xia

Status and phase: Completed; Early Phase 1

Conditions: Stroke Sequelae

Treatments: Drug: low-frequency acupoint electrical stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06061731

12230000414003578W

Details and patient eligibility

About

Abstract:

Objective: To examine the effect of low-frequency acupoint electrical stimulation (LFES) on the surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals of the thumb-to-finger movement muscles in stroke patients, and to evaluate the clinical efficacy of LFES on hand function recovery after stroke.

Full description

Methods: Sixty patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to a LFES group or an electroacupuncture (EA) group, with 30 patients in each group. Both groups received conventional treatment, and the EA group was treated with acupoints from the book of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, while the LFES group was treated with acupoints from a previous study. The sEMG characteristic values (MAX and RMS), Chinese Stroke Clinical Neurological Deficit Scale (CSS), Brunnstrom Motor Function Evaluation, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Lindmark Hand Function Score and Lovett Muscle Strength Classification were measured before and after treatment.

Enrollment: 57 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 35 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

①Diagnostic criteria for upper extremity motor dysfunction after stroke. ②Age 35-75 years and duration of illness is 2 weeks to 3 months. ③ Impaired hand function with Lovett classification ≥ grade 2 and MAS ≤ grade 2. ④No organ dysfunction such as heart, liver, lung, kidney or blood circulation dysfunction. ⑤Clear consciousness, no major impairment in intelligence, hearing or speech, and stable condition. ⑥Patients voluntarily participated in this subject trial and signed the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting functional recovery prior to the onset of the disease. ②Brainstem infarction, bilateral cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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57 participants in 2 patient groups

Low frequency group treatment

Active Comparator group

Description:

Low frequency group treatment: The treatment frequency is selected as 50Hz, pulse width 0.3ms, waveform is intermittent waveform, stimulation intensity is tolerated by the patient, the instrument program is set to stimulate the first group of acupoints → second group → first group → third group, forming a set of programmed movements, cyclic operation, appearing alternate movements of flexor and extensor muscles, namely: wrist dorsal extension, five-finger extension → five-finger flexion → wrist dorsal extension, five-finger extension → thumb-index finger pair pinching, simulating fine movements Grasp of the hand, thumb-index finger pair pinch. The treatment course was the same as that of the electroacupuncture group.

Treatment:

Drug: low-frequency acupoint electrical stimulation

Electroacupuncture group treatment

No Intervention group

Description:

Electroacupuncture group treatment: After the above acupuncture to deqi, choose KWD-808 Ⅰ type Indy brand pulse acupuncture treatment instrument, the waveform is continuous wave, the stimulation frequency is 2Hz, the intensity to be tolerated by the patient. There should be muscle contraction at the acupuncture site during electroacupuncture treatment. The treatment time should be 30 minutes each time, once a day, 6 days a week with 1 day off, for a total of 3 weeks.