Reho Analysis of the Cerebral Functional Effects of Jin's Three Needle Combined Mirror Therapy-for Patients with Ischemic Stroke

This study investigated the effects of Jin's three needles (JTN) combined with Mirror Therapy (MT) on brain function in patients with upper limb dysfunction in ischemic stroke and the possible mechanisms of central effects by using fMRI technique. Methods: Forty patients who met the study criteria were divided into treatment group (JTN+MT) and control group (JTN) by randomized numerical method. The control group was given Jin's three-needle therapy, while the treatment group was treated with mirror therapy for 30 min on top of the control group for 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) scanning BOLD brain functional image acquisition was performed before and after treatment. The differences in local coherence (ReHo) between the two groups of patients before and after treatment were analyzed and statistically analyzed. The Fugel-Meyer Motor Function Upper Extremity Element (FMA-UE) score, (Mini Mental State Examination, MMSE) score were also utilized to evaluate the two groups of patients before treatment and at the end of the treatment course.Result: After the treatment, the brain regions with significantly increased ReHo values in the treatment group compared to the control group were Corona radiata, Caudate nucleus, Cingulate Gyrus, Supramaginal Gyrus, Inferior Temporary Gyrus, Precentral Gyrus, and Middle Frontal Gyrus (voxel cluster volume>54, P<0.05). In the FMA-UE score and MMSE score, the treatment group was higher than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion: Jin's three needles combined with mirror therapy may promote better activation and reconstruction of relevant brain functional areas (motor, cognitive and memory) in patients with upper limb dysfunction in ischemic stroke.