Objective: To find a convenient and acceptable rehabilitation therapy for apoplexy sequelae.

Methods: The therapeutic effect of rubbing and kneading with a rod needle and that of filiform needling were observed and compared: (1 ) Point selection: There were 3 groups of points selected. Group 1: Baihui (GV20), bilateral Zusanli (ST36), Jianyu (LI15) on the affected side, Waiguan (TE5), Shousanli (LI10), Huantitao (GB30) and Jiexi (ST41). Group 2: Bilateral Touwei (ST5), Sanyinjiao (SP9), Jianjing (GB2I) on the affected side, Quchi (LIll), Hegu (LI4), Juliao (ST3) and Taichong (LR3). Group3: Sishencong (EX-HN1), Neiguan (PC6), Jugu (LI16) on the affected side, Zhouliao (LI12), Sanjian (LI3) and Kunlun (BL60). The 3 groups of points were alternatively used and one group was used for each treatment; (2) Acupuncture tools and the maneuvers: A rod needle was made of ox horn. It is 6cm-long with a ball in shape of 0.5cm in diameter at one end, and with a flat knife in shape with 0.7cm-edge at the other end. The tip of the knife-edge is as sharp as a needle and the other part is an arc in shape. After pressing and rubbing at the point selected for 1 -2 minutes by the left hand of the operator, rubbing or kneading with either end of the rod needle was applied by the right hand holding the middle part of the rod based on the situation. The ball-shaped end was used for gently rubbing and pressing, and the knife-shaped end for plucking tendons more forcefully for invigorating and promoting channels and collaterals to expel pathogenic evil. If necessary, the needle shaped tip was used for acupuncture stimulation. Filiform needles were conventionally used as the control. The treatments were given once daily and 10 treatments constituted a course. An interval of 3 -5 days was allowed between the 2 courses of treatments, and curative effects were estimated after 4 courses of treatments.

Results: A total of 103 patients with the history of hemiplegia within 1 year were treated. They were divided at random into Group 1 (n=55), and Group 2 (n=48). In Group 1, basic cure was found in 8 cases, marked improvement in 11 cases, improvement in 11 cases, and failure in 25 cases. In Group 2, basic cure was found in 7 cases, obvious improvement in 8 cases, improvement in 10 cases and failure in 23 cases. The effective rates of movement functions were 54.5% and 52.08% in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively without significant differences statistically (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Rubbing and kneading with rod needles produce the same curative effects as filiform needles. The former is more acceptable to the patients than the latter.

By Zhang yongshu.