Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture on ankle varus after stroke. Methods 61 stroke patients with ankle varus were randomly divided into two groups. The control group (n=30) was treated with exercise and function electrical stimulation (FES), while the observation group (n=31) was treated with acupuncture in addition. Clinical Spasticity Index (CSI), Simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), modified Barthel Index (MBI), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Holden Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) were applied to assess ankle spasticity, lower limb motor function, the activities of daily living (ADL), balance function and walking ability respectively before and 8 weeks after treatment. Results Compared with pre-treatment, two groups improved in the ankle spasticity, lower limb motor function,ADL, balance function and walking ability 8 weeks after treatment (P<0.05), and the observation group was better than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture can facilitate to improve the ankle spasticity, lower limb motor function, ADL, balance function and walking ability for stroke patients ankle varus.

Key words: stroke, hemiplegia, ankle varus, function electrical stimulation, acupuncture, rehabilitation