24843962
OBJECTIVE	To compare the difference in the efficacy on gait time cycle of ischemic stroke between yin-yang respiratory reinforcing and reducing needling technique ( yin-yang needling ) and the conventional acupuncture .
METHODS	Sixty cases of ischemic stroke were randomized into a conventional acupuncture group and a yin-yang needling group , 30 cases in each one .
METHODS	The basic treatment ( the control of blood pressure , blood sugar and blood lipid , the intravenous drops of ginkgo leaf extract and dipyridamole injection and vinpocetine injection ) were applied in the two groups .
METHODS	Additionally , in the conventional acupuncture group , the acupoints of the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming [ Biguan ( ST 31 ) , Liangqiu ( ST 34 ) , Zusanli ( ST 36 ) , Shangjuxu ( ST 37 ) , Xiajuxu ( ST 39 ) , etc. ] were selected and stimulated with the even needling technique .
METHODS	In the yin-yang needling group , the acupoints of yin meridians such as Zuwuli ( LR 10 ) , Xuehai ( SP 10 ) , Yinlingquan ( SP 9 ) and Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 ) , etc. and the acupoints of yang meridians such as Biguan ( ST 31 ) , Liangqiu ( ST 34 ) and Yanglingquan ( GB 34 ) , etc. were selected .
METHODS	The reducing manipulation of respiratory reinforcing and reducing technique was applied to the acupoints of yin meridians and the reinforcing manipulation was applied to the acupoints of yang meridians .
METHODS	The kinematics time parameters were determined and compared before and 4 weeks after treatment .
RESULTS	After treatment , the differences in the gait cycle , the phase time of standing ( % ) , the phase time of single support ( % ) , the phase time of unilateral sway ( % ) on the affected ( healthy ) foot and phase time of double support ( % ) were significant as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups ( all P < 0.05 ) , in which , the gait cycle ( 1.75 + / - 0.21 vs 2.02 + / - 0.37 ) , the phase time of standing ( % ) on the affected ( healthy ) foot [ ( 65.41 + / - 5.20 ) % vs ( 68.37 + / - 6.24 ) % , ( 70.99 + / - 6.47 ) % vs ( 74.51 + / - 5.19 ) % ] , the phase time of unilateral sway ( % ) on the affected ( healthy ) foot [ ( 36.08 + / - 4.86 ) % vs ( 33.65 + / - 2.94 ) % , ( 31.04 + / - 3.41 ) % vs ( 26.77 + / - 2.67 ) % ] and the phase time of double support ( % ) [ ( 36.91 + / - 5.10 ) % vs ( 41.22 + / - 5.39 ) % ] in the yin-yang needling group were improved much obviously after treatment as compared with those in the conventional acupuncture group .
RESULTS	The differences in support phase time ( % ) , single support phase time ( % ) and sway phase time ( % ) were significant between the affected limb and healthy limb of the two groups after treatment ( all P < 0.05 ) .
CONCLUSIONS	Yin-yang respiratory reinforcing and reducing needling technique effectively improves hemiplegic gait movement cycle and walking function in patients of ischemic stroke , which is superior to the conventional acupuncture treatment .

