Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of internal heat-type acupuncture needle(IHTAN)therapy in the treatment of post-stroke shoulder pain in apopletic patients.Methods According to the random number table

96 patients with post-stroke shoulder pain were divided into IHTAN group and warm needle moxibustion group(n=48 in each one).Jianyu(LI15)

Jianliao(TE14)

Jianzhen(SI9)

Binao(LI14)and Ashi points(Extra)on the affected side were selected in the two groups.For patients of the IHTAN group

internal warmth controllable acupuncture needles were inserted into the above-mentioned acupoints

and then connected to an internal heat acupuncture apparatus for stimulating the acupoints at 42℃

20 min every time

once a week

for 4 weeks.For patients of the warm needle moxibustion group

the above mentioned acupoints were stimulated with filiform needles attached with an ignited moxa-stick

once every other day

for 4 weeks.If the shoulder pain disappeared or basically disappeared

it was considered to be healed

if the pain was relieved

it was considered to be effective

otherwise

it was considered to be ineffective.The incidence of local skin injury including burn

empyrosis

silt blue

hematoma and infection

the heart rate

respiration

blood pressure

oxyhemoglobin saturation

blood routine(hemoglobin level

white blood cell[WBC]count

platelet count)

creatase and dipolymer levels were recorded or detected.Additionally

the patients' satisfaction rate about the treatment environment was recorded.Results Following the treatment

of the 45 and 47 cases in the warm needle moxibustion and IHTAN groups

5(11.11%)and 20(42.55%)were cured

26(57.78%)and 21(44.68%)experienced marked improvement

and 14(31.11%)and 6(12.77%)had no apparent changes in their shoulder pain severity

with the total effective rates being 68.89% and 87.23%

respectively.The curative rate and total effective rate of the IHTAN group were significantly higher than those of the warm needle moxibustion group(P<0.01

P<0.05).The incidence of skin injury of the IHTAN group was evidently lower than that of the warm needle moxibustion group(P<0.01)

and the patients' therapeutic environment satisfaction rate was remarkably higher in the IHTNA group than in the warm needle moxibustion group(P<0.05).No significant differences were found between the two groups and between pre-and post-treatment in each group in the heart rate

respiration frequency

systolic and diastolic pressures

oxyhemoglobin saturation

hemoglobin content

WBC count

platelet count

and plasma dipolymer

creatine kinase

lactic dehydrogenase

and beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase levels(P>0.05).Conclusion The IHTAN therapy is effective

safe and reliable in the treatment of post-stroke shoulder pain.In terms of the incidence of skin injury and the satisfaction degree of therapeutic environment

the internal heat-type acupuncture needle therapy is obviously superior to the warm needle moxibustion therapy.