To observe the effect of mild moxibustion at Jiuwei (CV15) on the ultrasonic parameters of the diaphragm and postural control ability of patients after recovery from stroke complicated with pulmonary infection.

Eighty patients were randomly divided into control group (40 cases, with 5 cases dropped out) and experimental group (40 cases, with 4 cases dropped out). The control group was given rehabilitation training, routine internal medicine and acupuncture treatments, while the experimental group was given mild moxibustion at CV15 with moxa sticks on the basis of the control group, 15 minutes each time, once a day, 5 times a week for a total of 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the diaphragm thickness (DT), the diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF), the diaphragm excursion (DE) and the diaphragm contraction velocity (DCV) during quiet breathing and deep breathing were measured by musculoskeletal ultrasound, respectively. The trunk impairment scale (TIS) and the postural assessment scale for stroke survivors (PASS) scores of the patients were evaluated before treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, and 4 weeks after treatment.

Compared with the same group before treatment, the DTF was increased (P<0.05), the DE during quiet breathing and deep breathing both increased (P<0.05), the DCV during deep breathing increased (P<0.05) after treatment, and the TIS and PASS scores increased (P<0.05) 2 weeks and 4 weeks after treatment of patients in both groups; the DT increased (P<0.05), and the DCV during quiet breathing increased (P<0.05) of patients in the experimental group. Compared with the control group at the same time point, the DTF increased (P<0.05), the DCV during quiet breathing increased (P<0.05), the DE and DCV during deep breathing both increased (P<0.05) after treatment, and the TIS and PASS scores increased (P<0.05) 4 weeks after treatment of patients in the experimental group.

Mild moxibustion at CV15 can effectively improve the DTF, DE during deep breathing, and DCV during quiet breathing and deep breathing of patients recovered from stroke complicated with pulmonary infection, and improve the postural control ability of patients.

To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Juliao (GB29) on lower limb motor function, balance function, and the gluteus medius contraction ratio and thickness in patients with stroke-related hemiplegia, as well as the correlation between the gluteus medius and lower limb motor function and balance function in these patients.

A total of 68 patients with stroke-related hemiplegia were randomly divided into an observation group (34 cases, with 1 dropped out and 1 withdrawal) and a control group (34 cases, with 2 dropped out). The control group received conventional acupuncture in addition to standard medical treatment for their underlying conditions, along with rehabilitation training. The observation group received EA at GB29 on the hemiplegic side for 30 min per session, once daily, 5 times a week, over a total treatment duration of 4 weeks, based on the control group’s treatment. Before treatment, the correlation between the contraction ratio of the gluteus medius and the scores of the lower limb Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was analyzed. The thickness of the gluteus medius was measured, and the contraction ratio was calculated before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. Assessments of the lower limb FMA and BBS scores were conducted before treatment, and 2 and 4 weeks after treatment.

Before treatment, the contraction ratio and thickness of the gluteus medius on the hemiplegic side were lower than those on the non-hemiplegic side in both groups (P<0.05). The gluteus medius contraction ratio before treatment demonstrated a positive correlation with the lower limb FMA and BBS scores (P<0.05). The gluteus medius contraction ratio and thickness on the hemiplegic side 4 weeks after treatment, as well as the lower limb FMA and BBS scores 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, were significantly higher than those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the observation group showed a greater contraction ratio of the gluteus medius, as well as higher FMA and BBS scores 4 weeks after treatment when compared with the control group (P<0.05).

The level of gluteus medius activation is positively correlated with lower limb motor function and balance function in patients with stroke-related hemiplegia. EA at the GB29 effectively activates the gluteus medius on the hemiplegic side, providing a stability mechanism for the lumbopelvic-hip complex, thereby improving lower limb motor function and balance in patients with stroke.