Effect of Scalp Acupuncture Combined Lower Limbs Rehabilitative Robot on Static Balance in Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of scalp acupuncture combined lower limbs rehabilitative robot on static balance in stroke patients with hemiplegia. METHODS 102 stroke patients with hemiplegia were randomly divided into the scalp acupuncture group (34 cases)， the lower limbs robot group (34 cases) and the combination group. The scalp acupuncture group was given scalp-acupuncture. The lower limbs robot group was given lower limbs rehabilitative robot training. The combination group were given scalp-acupuncture combined with lower limbs rehabilitative robot training. The area of foot support interface， weight ratio and plantar pressure changes were measured by gait analyzer before and after 3 months of rehabilitation treatment. RESULTS There were significant decreases in foot support interface and the weight ratio of the healthy side in the 3 groups (P<0.05，P<0.01)， while those of the affected side were significantly improved (P<0.05，P<0.01) after intervention， and those of the combination group were significantly better than the other two groups (P<0.05，P<0.01). The foot balance indexes including ball length， elliptic area， length/elliptic area， angle and long axis were all significantly decreased than those of the pre-treatment (P<0.01). The combination group was better than the scalp acupuncture group and lower limb robot group (P<0.05，P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Scalp acupuncture combined with lower limb robot rehabilitation training system can significantly increase the static balance in stroke patients with hemiplegia.