EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MOTOR FUNCTION REHABILITATION AFTER STROKE USING PHYSIOTHERAPY COMBINED WITH ELECTROACUPUNCTURE AT THONG NHAT HOSPITAL, 2025

Tóm tắt

Stroke is the leading cause of severe disability among adults worldwide. In Vietnam, the burden is rising rapidly. The increasing incidence drives higher healthcare costs, reduced work capacity, and greater social pressures. Accordingly, post-stroke motor rehabilitation is a priority to reduce mortality and complications and limit disability. At Thống Nhất Hospital, physiotherapy combined with electroacupuncture has been used for years under the guidance of the Ministry of Health, with observed functional benefits. Still, its effectiveness has not been formally evaluated. This study aimed to generate evidence to guide regimen selection and optimise patient outcomes. Materials and Methods: A clinical interventional study without a control group was conducted, employing a pre- and post-treatment comparison. Eighty-six patients newly diagnosed with stroke within the preceding three months, receiving inpatient or outpatient care at the Departments of Rehabilitation, Emergency Interventional Cardiology, Neurology, and Traditional Medicine at Thống Nhất Hospital from January to October 2025, were included. Motor function recovery was assessed through manual muscle testing and the Barthel Index after 30 days of treatment. Results: The proportion with muscle strength grades 0–2 fell from 53.49% to 17.44%, whereas grades 4–5 rose from 29.07% to 59.30%. The mean Barthel Index increased from 44.24 ± 18.16 to 69.07 ± 17.90. Post-intervention classifications were completely independent, 12.79%; partially dependent, 76.74%; entirely dependent, 10.47%. Conclusion: Physiotherapy plus electroacupuncture appears safe and effective for post-stroke rehabilitation, improving muscle strength and independence in activities of daily living. Benefits extend beyond statistical significance to practical gains in quality of life and community reintegration.