Correction of arterialrigidity in the acute period of ischemic stroke by reflexotherapy

Molchanova Elena E.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the parameters of arterial stiffness in patients in the acute period of ischemic stroke and the possibilities of their correction by reflexotherapy. Sixty-five patients were examined: the main group (n = 40) in whom standard therapy had been optimized using combined reflexotherapy methods and control group (n = 25) received traditional drug therapy in combination with exercise therapy and physiotherapy. In order to evaluate the rigidity of the main vessels, volumetric sphygmography on the «VaSera VS-1000» apparatus was used. At the initial examination (3-5 days of hospital stay), CAVI and ABI values in the groups did not differ significantly and on the average were 9.66 ± 0.32 - in the main and 9.28 ± 0.27 - in the control group ( CAVI) and 1.04 ± 0.02 and 1.05 ± 0.02, respectively (ABI). After the course of early rehabilitation (after two weeks) among patients treated with reflexotherapy procedures, average CAVI indicators significantly improved (by 11%) to 8,63 ± 0,24 (p = 0.02) whereas in the control group,stayed at the same level - 9.46 ± 0.34 (p = 0.685). In the main group, a faster regression of neurological symptoms (according to the NIHSS) was observed - on average 4.3 points (72.6%), while in the control group it was 2.8 points (47.3%). Thus, the use of reflexotherapyamong patients in the acute period of ischemic stroke causes a significant improvement, reflecting the arterial stiffness (CAVI), against a background of a faster regression of the neurological deficit.

Keywords:arterial stiffness, CAVI (cardio-ankle vascular index), ABI (ankle-brachial index), reflexotherapy, acute period of ischemic stroke