AIM: To compare therapeutic effects between the acupuncture applied on the deltoid muscle and triceps brachii musculus and on upper limb main point and yang channel point on the purpose of the amelioration of upper limb muscular spasm in patients with cerebral infarction. METHODS: Ninety-nine cerebral infarction inpatients adopted in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2003 to November 2004 were randomly divided into three groups. 1 Regular acupuncture group (n = 33): They were treated by Shi's Xingnaokaiqiao acupuncture therapy on upper limb main point at 1 inch bottom of Neikuan (P6), Chich'uan (H1), and Ch'ihtse (Lu5) with reinforcing and reducing by ligting and thrusting the needle without retaining the needle. 2 yang channel point acupuncture group (n = 32): based on the routine acupuncture group, Chienliao (SJ14), Pinao (LI14), T'ienching (SJ10) and Naohui (SJ13) were selected on injured side, using lifting and thrusting method as a manipulation in acupuncture and twirling reinforcing reducing method, retaining the needle for half an hour after deqi, needling sensation. 3 The deltoid muscle and brachial triceps muscle group (n = 34): besides routine acupuncture, any points of fleshly muscle on deltoid muscle and brachial triceps muscle were selected for acupuncture (Different points were choose every time), around the points every 1 cm point was punctured again for 6 points, using lifting and thrusting method as a manipulation in acupuncture and twirling reinforcing reducing method, retaining the needle for half an hour after the whole acupuncture. Once per day in the patients in the three groups stopped at Sunday for 4 weeks treatment. The muscles of upper limb spasticity was evaluated with improved the Ashworth scale before and after the treatment (including 0, I, I+, II, III, IV 6 grades, at 0 grade meant the muscular tension did not increase; IV grade meant rigid). RESULTS: According to the practical disposal analysis, 94 patients were involved in the result analysis. 0 to I+ grade summation rate: There were no difference pre-treatment in routine acupuncture group, yang channel point acupuncture group and deltoid muscle and brachial triceps muscle group (31%, 37%, 28%, p > 0.05). There were no difference post-treatment in yang channel point acupuncture group and deltoid muscle and brachial triceps muscle group (57%, 62%, p > 0.05), while it was higher than that in routine acupuncture group (41%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Based on the restoring consciousness and resuscitation acupuncture therapy, acupuncture on the deltoid muscle and musculus triceps brachii has the similar effect on yang channel point on upper limb muscular spasm in patients with cerebral infarction, and the effect was better than the only usage of restoring consciousness and resuscitation acupuncture method, which indicated that on the clinic acupuncture treatment from the point of 'muscle' associatively, expend the range of traditional acupuncture with 'point' treatment.

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