Effects of joint mobilization combined with acupuncture on pain, physical function, and depression in stroke patients with chronic neuropathic pain: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
To investigate the effectiveness of joint mobilization combined with acupuncture for improving pain, physical function, and depression in poststroke patients.
Results Summary
The combination of joint mobilization and acupuncture significantly improved pain and physical function compared to joint mobilization alone or control. Both intervention groups showed significant improvements in physical function and depression compared to the control group.
Population
Poststroke patients with chronic neuropathic pain (n = 69).
Effective Dosage
Joint mobilization for 30 minutes, twice a week; acupuncture for 30 minutes, once a week.
Duration
12 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
joint mobilization combined with acupuncture | decrease | pain | poststroke patients with chronic neuropathic pain | - | improved significantly | #1 |
joint mobilization combined with acupuncture | increase | physical function | poststroke patients with chronic neuropathic pain | - | improved significantly | #2 |
joint mobilization combined with acupuncture | decrease | depression | poststroke patients with chronic neuropathic pain | - | improved significantly | #3 |
joint mobilization | increase | physical function | poststroke patients | - | improved significantly | #4 |
joint mobilization | decrease | depression | poststroke patients | - | improved significantly | #5 |
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of joint mobilization (JM) combined with acupuncture (AC) for the treatment of pain, physical function and depression in poststroke patients. METHODS: A total of 69 poststroke patients were randomly assigned to the JM+AC group (n = 23), the JM group (n = 23), and the control group (n = 23). Patients in the JM+AC group and the JM group received JM for 30 minutes, twice a week for 12 weeks, and the JM+AC group received AC for 30 minutes separately once a week. The control group did not receive JM or AC. Pain (visual analog scale, shoulder pain and disability index, Western Ontario and McMaster universities osteoarthritis index), physical function (range of motion, 10-m walking speed test, functional gait assessment, manual function test, activities of daily living scale, instrumental activities of daily living scale), and depression (center for epidemiologic studies depression scale, Beck depression inventory) were assessed for each patient before and after the 12 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: Pain and physical function were improved significantly in the JM+AC group compared with the JM and control groups. Physical function and depression were improved significantly in the JM+AC and JM groups compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: The treatment of JM combined with AC improved pain, depression, and physical function of poststroke patients with chronic neuropathic pain in this study. This valuable finding provides empirical evidence for the designing therapeutic interventions and identifying potential therapeutic targets.