Fu's subcutaneous needling and constraint-induced movement therapy for a patient with chronic stroke: One-year follow-up case report

This report describes the successful addition of acupuncture on spasticity and arm function in a patient with chronic stroke and arm paresis. Patient concerns: The patient suffered an infarction in the right posterior limb of the internal capsule 1 year ago, which resulted in hemiparesis in his left (nondominant) hand and arm. The only limitation for constraint-induced movement therapy was insufficient finger extension. The patient was unable to voluntarily extend his interphalangeal or metacarpophalangeal joints beyond the 10 degrees required for constraint-induced movement therapy. However, his muscle tension did not change after the BTX type A injection. Diagnoses: A 35-year-old male experienced arm paresis after an infarction in the right posterior limb of the internal capsule 1 year before the intervention. Interventions: The BTX type A injection did not work, so the patient received Fu's subcutaneous needling as an alternative therapy before 5 h of constraint-induced movement therapy for 12 weekdays. Outcomes: All outcome measures (Modified Ashworth Scale, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Action Research Arm Test, and Motor Activity Log) substantially improved over the 1-year period. Moreover, during the observation period, the patient's muscle tone and arm function did not worsen. Lessons: As a result of a reduction in spasticity, a reduction of learned nonuse behaviors, or use-dependent plasticity after the combined therapy, the arm functions include voliti...
Source: Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Tags: Research Article: Clinical Case Report Source Type: research