Effectiveness of Tuina massage combined with conventional treatment in improving post-stroke spasticity: A meta-analysis.

BackgroundPost-stroke spasticity (PSS) is a common complication that affects recovery and quality of life. Traditional rehabilitation approaches may benefit from complementary therapies.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Tuina massage combined with conventional treatment for PSS through a meta-analysis, providing a scientific basis for clinical decision-making and future research directions.MethodA literature search was conducted across both English-language (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science) and Chinese-language (CNKI, Wanfang, VIP) databases. Inclusion criteria were limited to randomized controlled trials. Data analysis was performed using Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 12.0 software, with detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria and quality assessment using the Jadad scoring system.ResultsEighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, involving 1937 patients treated with various Tuina techniques alone or in combination with other therapies. Results indicated that Tuina significantly improved symptoms and quality of life, with the Tuina treatment group outperforming the control group in the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA).ConclusionThis meta-analysis demonstrates that Tuina massage combined with conventional treatment significantly reduces PSS severity and enhances functional abilities and quality of life, highlighting its potential integration into rehabilitation programs for comprehensive PSS management.