META-ANALYSIS OF EARLY INTEGRATED REHABILITATION TRAINING FOR MANAGING LIMB SPASTICITY IN ATHLETES POST-INJURY

Abstract

Objective: To systematically assess the effectiveness of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation therapy on limb functionality in athletes experiencing muscle spasm post-spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases up to October 2018 for clinical randomized controlled trials examining the combination of acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy for muscle spasm following SCI. A meta-analysis of the collected data was performed using RevMan 5.3 software, focusing on outcomes relevant to athletic rehabilitation. Results: Eleven studies, all conducted in China involving 715 participants, were included. The meta-analysis revealed significant benefits of the combined treatment approach. The experimental group exhibited a higher clinical response rate than the control group [MD = 5.02, 95% CI (3.05, 8.28), Z=6.34, P<0.001]. Improvements were also noted in the clinical spasticity index score [MD= -3.09, 95%CI (-4.51, -1.67), Z=4.28, P<0.001] and Ashworth score [MD= -0.84, 95% CI (-1.01, -0.67), Z=9.48, P<0.001], indicating better muscle spasm management. Additionally, improvements in the Barthel index suggested enhanced daily functioning [MD = 10.41, 95% CI (8.74, 12.09), Z=12.19, P<0.001]. No adverse events were reported in either group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that acupuncture in conjunction with rehabilitation therapy significantly enhances limb function and reduces spasticity in athletes with SCI. However, limitations in the scope of the studies reviewed necessitate further research with larger, multicenter trials to substantiate these results fully and optimize treatment protocols for athletic rehabilitation post-SCI.