Effect of acupuncture stimulation physical therapy (ASPT) on hemiparetic cerebrovascular disease patients who had hypertonia in the thenar muscle of the affected side: F-wave characteristics of the inhibition technique

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acupuncture stimulation physical therapy (ASPT) on hemiparetic cerebrovascular disease patients. [Subjects] The subjects were seven hemiparetic cerebrovascular disease patients. [Methods] The subjects’ received ASPT at syakutaku (LU5) for hypertonia of the thenar muscle on the affected side. The F-wave of the muscle was measured before and after the treatment and compared. [Results] The amplitude ratio of F/M was significantly decreased by ASPT immediately after, and 5, 10, and 15 min after ASPT compared to before ASPT. No significant differences were found in the frequency of the appearance of latency after ASPT. [Conclusion] The results suggest that ASPT, aiming to decrease muscle tension, inhibited the excitability of the spinal cord.