[Clinical study of the treatment of infant cerebral palsy with warm-reinforcing needling combined with rehabilitation training]

Abstract

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of warm-reinforcing needling combined with modern rehabilitation training for infant cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Forty cases of cerebral palsy children were randomly divided into rehabilitation (Rehab, n=19) and acupuncture (Acup) + Rehab (n=21) groups. Body acupoints used were Baihui (GV 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Quchi (LI 11), Huantiao (GB 30), Yinlingquan (GB 34), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc., and scalp-acupoints Zhisanzhen (the cross-point between the anterior hairline and the median line of the head, 3 cun bilateral to the crossing point), Naosanzhen [Nao-hu (GV 17), 1.5 cun bilateral to GV17], Balance Zone, Motor Zone, etc. . The treatment was conducted once every other day, with 3 months being a therapeutic course, 2 courses altogether. Rehabilitation training included physical training (PT), occupational therapy (OT) training, and speech training (ST), 5 times a week, with 3 months being a therapeutic course, 2 courses altogether. Gross motor function measure (GMFM) and comprehensive function (CF, including cognition, speech, motor, self-care and social-adaptable abilities) were evaluated.

Results: After the treatment, of the 19 and 21 cases in Rehab and Acup+ Rehab groups, 12 (63.16%) and 18 (85.71%) experienced marked improvement, 7 (36.84%) and 3 (14.29%) failed, with the effective rates being 63.16% and 85.71% respectively. The therapeutic effect of Acup+ Rehab group was markedly superior to that of Rehab group (P < 0.05). Self-comparison of two groups showed that the scores of CF and GMFM increased significantly in comparison with pre-treatment (P < 0.01), and the scores of F and GMFM of Acup + Rehab group were obviously higher than those of Rehab group (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Rehabilitation training combined with acupuncture can apparently improve CP children's motor and comprehensive functions, and the therapeutic effect of AcupWarm-reinf Rehab is evidently superior to that of simple rehabilitation training therapy.