Objective To investigate the effect of Baixiao moxibustion at meridian sinew nodal points combined with routine rehabilitation on upper limb motor function in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Methods A total of 50 children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy were divided into control group and treatment group using a random number table

with 25 children in each group. The children in the control group were given routine rehabilitation training of the ipsilateral upper and lower limbs

and those in the treatment group were given Baixiao moxibustion at the meridian sinew nodal points of the ipsilateral upper limb in addition to the treatment in the control group

once a day and five times a week. Each course of treatment was 4 consecutive weeks

and both groups were treated for 3 courses. Before treatment and at weeks 4 and 12 of treatment

modified Ashworth score was used to evaluate muscle tension of the ipsilateral upper limb

and 88-item version of the Gross Motor Function Measure(GMFM-88) and Carroll upper extremities functional test(UEFT) were used to assess the motor function of the ipsilateral upper limb. Results At weeks 4 and 12 of treatment

both groups had a significant reduction in modified Ashworth score(P<0.05) and significant increases in GMFM-88 and UEFT scores(P<0.05). Both groups had significant changes in modified Ashworth score

GMFM-88 score

and UEFT score from week 4 to week 12 of treatment(P<0.05). Compared with the control group at week 12 of treatment

the treatment group had a significant reduction in modified Ashworth score(P<0.05) and significant increases in GMFM-88 and UEFT scores(P<0.05). Conclusion Baixiao moxibustion at meridian sinew nodal points can significantly improve the muscle tension and motor function of the ipsilateral upper limb in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy

and the improvement becomes more apparent as the treatment lasts longer.