• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.223-224
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• 2012

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study analyzed how proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) combined with auricular acupuncture affected the activation of the leg muscles of stroke patients and measured the effects of this combination to provide clinical data. METHODS: The subjects were divided randomly into experimental group I, which received PNF combined with auricular acupuncture, and experimental group II, which received PNF alone. Each group had ten members. A 30-minute intervention was performed four days a week for six weeks. Before the six weeks of intervention, pre-tests were conducted to measure muscle activation in the legs. After six weeks, post-tests were also conducted to measure muscle activation in the legs. RESULTS: Experimental group I showed a statistically significant difference in muscle rectus femoris, muscle biceps femoris, muscle tibialis anterior, and muscle soleus. Experimental group II also showed a statistically significant difference in the muscle rectus femoris, muscle biceps femoris, muscle tibialis anterior, and muscle soleus (p < .05). In a between-group comparison of the changes, a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of muscle rectus femoris, muscle biceps femoris, muscle tibialis anterior, and muscle soleus (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Intervention in experimental group I increased the activation of the leg muscles more effectively because auricular acupuncture was applied to various spots on the ear corresponding to the spleen, liver, kidney, pelvis, knee, ankle, and toe. Auricular acupuncture is expected to be used more widely in the future because it is a safe way of stimulating muscle activation.