Effect of Point Application Combined with Chinese Herbal Foot Bath on Swelling of Affected Limbs and Limb Function in Patients with Post-Stroke Hemiplegia
Abstract:Objective:To observe the effect of point application combined with Chinese herbal foot bath on swelling of affected limbs and limb function in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia of qi stagnation and blood stasis type. Methods: A total of 155 cases of patients with stroke were selected, and were divied into the observation group and the control group according to the different nursing mode. The control group of 76 cases was given conventional nursing intervention,and the observation group of 79 cases was given nursing mode of point application combined with Chinese herbal foot bath. The treatment course lasted for 30 days. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, hemodynamic-related indicators [mean blood flow velocity (Vm) of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA),middle cerebral artery (MCA),and posterior cerebral artery (PCA)], degree of limb swelling, limb function [Fugl Meyer Motor Function Assessment Scale (FMA)],self-care ability [Activities of Daily Living (ADL)],and quality of life [Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL)] were compared between the two groups. Results: After treatment, the TCM syndrome scores of sluggish speech,hemiplegia,limbs pain,pale complexion,distending pain in chest and hypochondrium,tongue manifestation and pulse manifestation in the observation group were declined when compared with those before intervention (P<0.05), and each score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment,the Vm of ACA,MCA,and PCA in the two groups were increased when compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the above three indicators in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of swelling of affected limbs in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,with the difference being significant (P<0.05). After treatment,the FMA scores in the two groups were increased when compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the FMA score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment,the ADL scores in the two groups were increased when compared with those before treatment (P<0.05),and the ADL score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment,the SS-QOL scores in the two groups were increased when compared with those before treatment (P<0.05),and the SS-QOL score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Point application combined with Chinese herbal foot bath can significantly improve the cerebral blood flow and limb function of patients with post-stroke hemiplegia of qi stagnation and blood stasis type,alleviate clinical symptoms such as limb swelling and TCM syndromes, and has a positive effect on improving the quality of life.