Effects of Bilateral Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Stepped Task-Oriented Training on Upper Limb Dysfunction in Stroke Patients

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of bilateral transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined with stepped task-oriented training (STOT) on upper limb dysfunction in stroke patients.MethodsA total of 78 inpatients in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Shanghai Third Rehab...

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Main Authors: XIANG Yuzhi, WANG Hewei, LIU Lanlan, CHEN Yihao, CAO Yefan, CHEN Yao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Editorial Office of Rehabilitation Medicine 2025-06-01
Series:康复学报
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Online Access:http://kfxb.publish.founderss.cn/thesisDetails#10.3724/SP.J.1329.2025.03010
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author XIANG Yuzhi
WANG Hewei
LIU Lanlan
CHEN Yihao
CAO Yefan
CHEN Yao
author_facet XIANG Yuzhi
WANG Hewei
LIU Lanlan
CHEN Yihao
CAO Yefan
CHEN Yao
author_sort XIANG Yuzhi
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of bilateral transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined with stepped task-oriented training (STOT) on upper limb dysfunction in stroke patients.MethodsA total of 78 inpatients in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Shanghai Third Rehabilitation Hospital from November 2021 to June 2024 were recruited and randomly divided into control group, bilateral TEAS group and combined intervention group by random number table method, with 26 cases in each group. One patient in the combined intervention group dropped out due to early discharge. Finally, 26 patients in the control group, 26 patients in the bilateral TEAS group and 25 patients in the combined intervention group completed all evaluations and treatments. All three groups received conventional rehabilitation treatment (including active and passive limb movement, appropriate limb positioning, physical agent modalities, activities of daily living training, and traditional Chinese medicine treatments such as massage and manipulation). The treatment was 3 hours per day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. In addition to the conventional treatment, the control group received TEAS treatment at Shousanli (LI10) and Waiguan (SJ5) acupoints of the hemiplegic upper limb and received upper limb occupational therapy (OT) training; the bilateral TEAS group received TEAS treatment at LI0 and SJ5 acupoints of both upper limbs and received OT training of the hemiplegic upper limb; the combined intervention group received bilateral TEAS treatment at LI0 and SJ5 acupoints combined with STOT of the hemiplegic upper limb. The TEAS treatment, upper limb OT training and STOT in the three groups were performed for 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and the Box and Block Test (BBT) were used to evaluate upper limb motor function. The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) was used to assess the muscle tone of the elbow and wrist flexors in patients, and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scale was used to evaluate the patients' ability to perform activities of daily living. Scores before and after treatment, as well as within-group changes in scores (post-treatment <italic>minus</italic> pre-treatment), were compared among the three groups.ResultsCompared with pre-treatment, the total score, the proximal function score, and the distal function score of FMA-UE in the three groups all increased after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05); compared with the control group and the bilateral TEAS group, the changes of FMA-UE scores (post-treatment <italic>minus</italic> pre-treatment) in the combined intervention group were significantly greater (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Compared with pre-treatment, BBT scores of the three groups all increased after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05); compared with the control group and the bilateral TEAS group, BBT scores of the combined intervention group were significantly higher (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Compared with the control group and the bilateral TEAS group, the changes of BBT scores (post-treatment <italic>minus</italic> pre-treatment) in the combined intervention group were also greater (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Compared with pre-treatment, MBI scores of the three groups all increased after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05).ConclusionUnilateral TEAS, bilateral TEAS, and bilateral TEAS combined with STOT can all effectively improve the upper extremity motor function of stroke patients, but the combined intervention has shown more significant therapeutic effect.
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spelling doaj-art-0c496991df4442a3b4ae11099ba733f42025-08-20T03:15:20ZengEditorial Office of Rehabilitation Medicine康复学报2096-03282025-06-0135298306114326966Effects of Bilateral Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Stepped Task-Oriented Training on Upper Limb Dysfunction in Stroke PatientsXIANG YuzhiWANG HeweiLIU LanlanCHEN YihaoCAO YefanCHEN YaoObjectiveTo investigate the effects of bilateral transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined with stepped task-oriented training (STOT) on upper limb dysfunction in stroke patients.MethodsA total of 78 inpatients in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Shanghai Third Rehabilitation Hospital from November 2021 to June 2024 were recruited and randomly divided into control group, bilateral TEAS group and combined intervention group by random number table method, with 26 cases in each group. One patient in the combined intervention group dropped out due to early discharge. Finally, 26 patients in the control group, 26 patients in the bilateral TEAS group and 25 patients in the combined intervention group completed all evaluations and treatments. All three groups received conventional rehabilitation treatment (including active and passive limb movement, appropriate limb positioning, physical agent modalities, activities of daily living training, and traditional Chinese medicine treatments such as massage and manipulation). The treatment was 3 hours per day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. In addition to the conventional treatment, the control group received TEAS treatment at Shousanli (LI10) and Waiguan (SJ5) acupoints of the hemiplegic upper limb and received upper limb occupational therapy (OT) training; the bilateral TEAS group received TEAS treatment at LI0 and SJ5 acupoints of both upper limbs and received OT training of the hemiplegic upper limb; the combined intervention group received bilateral TEAS treatment at LI0 and SJ5 acupoints combined with STOT of the hemiplegic upper limb. The TEAS treatment, upper limb OT training and STOT in the three groups were performed for 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and the Box and Block Test (BBT) were used to evaluate upper limb motor function. The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) was used to assess the muscle tone of the elbow and wrist flexors in patients, and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scale was used to evaluate the patients' ability to perform activities of daily living. Scores before and after treatment, as well as within-group changes in scores (post-treatment <italic>minus</italic> pre-treatment), were compared among the three groups.ResultsCompared with pre-treatment, the total score, the proximal function score, and the distal function score of FMA-UE in the three groups all increased after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05); compared with the control group and the bilateral TEAS group, the changes of FMA-UE scores (post-treatment <italic>minus</italic> pre-treatment) in the combined intervention group were significantly greater (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Compared with pre-treatment, BBT scores of the three groups all increased after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05); compared with the control group and the bilateral TEAS group, BBT scores of the combined intervention group were significantly higher (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Compared with the control group and the bilateral TEAS group, the changes of BBT scores (post-treatment <italic>minus</italic> pre-treatment) in the combined intervention group were also greater (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). Compared with pre-treatment, MBI scores of the three groups all increased after treatment (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05).ConclusionUnilateral TEAS, bilateral TEAS, and bilateral TEAS combined with STOT can all effectively improve the upper extremity motor function of stroke patients, but the combined intervention has shown more significant therapeutic effect.http://kfxb.publish.founderss.cn/thesisDetails#10.3724/SP.J.1329.2025.03010strokeupper limb dysfunctiontranscutaneous electrical acupoint stimulationstepped task-oriented trainingleft-right coordination and balance theory
spellingShingle XIANG Yuzhi
WANG Hewei
LIU Lanlan
CHEN Yihao
CAO Yefan
CHEN Yao
Effects of Bilateral Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Stepped Task-Oriented Training on Upper Limb Dysfunction in Stroke Patients
康复学报
stroke
upper limb dysfunction
transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation
stepped task-oriented training
left-right coordination and balance theory
title Effects of Bilateral Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Stepped Task-Oriented Training on Upper Limb Dysfunction in Stroke Patients
title_full Effects of Bilateral Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Stepped Task-Oriented Training on Upper Limb Dysfunction in Stroke Patients
title_fullStr Effects of Bilateral Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Stepped Task-Oriented Training on Upper Limb Dysfunction in Stroke Patients
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Bilateral Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Stepped Task-Oriented Training on Upper Limb Dysfunction in Stroke Patients
title_short Effects of Bilateral Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Stepped Task-Oriented Training on Upper Limb Dysfunction in Stroke Patients
title_sort effects of bilateral transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with stepped task oriented training on upper limb dysfunction in stroke patients
topic stroke
upper limb dysfunction
transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation
stepped task-oriented training
left-right coordination and balance theory
url http://kfxb.publish.founderss.cn/thesisDetails#10.3724/SP.J.1329.2025.03010
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