Laser acupuncture in the treatment of paralysis in stroke patients; a CT scan lesion site study

Journal/Book: J Am J Acup. 1995; 23 (1): 13-28.

Abstract: Seven stroke patients received 20, 40 or 60 low-energy laser acupuncture treatments beginning at 10 months to 6.5 years poststroke (n=6); or at one month poststroke (n=1). A 20 mW gallium-aluminum-arsenide infrared diode laser (78Omm) was used directly on acupuncture points on the arm, leg, hand and/or face for 20 or 40 sec. per point. Five of the seven patients (71%) had improvement following laser treatments. The cases with arm/leg paralysis had improvement in knee flexion, knee extension and/or shoulder abduction; the cases with hand paresis had improvement in finger and hand strength. All patients with improvement had lesion on CT scan in <50% of the motor pathway areas (mild-moderate paralysis). Those with no improvement had lesion in > 50% of the motor pathway areas (severe paralysis). These results are similar to our previous research in which needle acupuncture was used to treat paralysis in stroke patients.

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