Clinical Observations on the Effect of Scalp Acupuncture on Gross Motor Function in Cerebral Palsy Children

Objective To investigate the effect of an individual acupuncture protocol,based on brain function location and standardized syndrome differentiation in traditional Chinese medicine,on gross motor function in cerebral palsy children and seek a new organic way of combining acupuncture and rehabilitation techniques.Methods Seventy-four cerebral palsy children were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 37 cases and a control group of 37 cases.The treatment group received an individual acupuncture protocol plus rehabilitation training and the control group,Jin’(sixteen brain-reinforcing points) acupuncture protocol plus rehabilitation training.Acupuncture and rehabilitation training were given once every other day and once daily,respectively,for three months in both groups.Gross motor function was assessed using the GMFM-66 score before and after(each month) treatment to examine the dynamic change.Results The GMFM-66 score increased significantly in both groups of patients after treatment(P 0.01).There was no statistically significant difference in post-treatment GMFM score increment between the two groups(P0.05).There was no interaction between the therapeutic protocol and time(P0.05).The GMFM score increased more in spastic cerebral palsy children of the treatment group than in those of the control group(P0.05).Conclusion Scalp acupuncture treatment plus rehabilitation training produces a positive effect on gross motor function in cerebral palsy children.Individual acupuncture treatment is superior to sixteen brain-reinforcing points in improving gross motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy.