Objective To observe the effects of Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture combined with electronic biofeedback on neurological and motor functions in patients with hemiplegia after stroke.
Methods A total of 92 patients with hemiplegia after stroke in the Rehabilitation Department of Puyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2024 to July 2025 were selected as the study subjects, and they were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 46 cases in each group. The control group received electronic biofeedback therapy, while the observation group received additional Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture therapy. Clinical efficacy, scores of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes, score of the Neurological Deficit Scale (NDS), active range of motion (AROM) of the wrist and ankle joints, score of Berg Balance Scale (BBS), score of Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), score of modified Barthel index (MBI) as well as the root mean square (RMS) values of surface electromyography of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius muscles were compared between the two groups.
Results The total effective rate was 95.65% in the observation group, which was significantly higher than 80.43% in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores for hemiplegia, slurred speech, hypoesthesia, facial deviation choking on drinking water, and the total scores in both groups decreased significantly compared to those before treatment, and the decrease was more pronounced in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the NDS scores in the observation group and the control group were (11.80±3.29) and (16.11±4.03) points respectively, with a significant between-group difference (P < 0.05). After treatment, AROM of the wrist and ankle joints in both groups increased significantly compared to those before treatment, and the AROM of the wrist and ankle joints in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the FMA, BBS, and MBI scores in both groups increased significantly compared to those before treatment, and the FMA, BBS, and MBI scores in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the RMS values of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius muscles in both groups increased significantly compared to those before treatment, and the increase was more pronounced in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion The combination of Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture and electronic biofeedback therapy can effectively improve scores of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and neurological deficit scores, enhance motor function, thereby promoting functional recovery, improving the quality of life and cure rate in patients with hemiplegia after stroke.