Abstract: Objective To observe the effects of hot medicated compress with moxa-salt on the three yang meridians of hand on motor function of the upper limb, upper limb joint range of motion, and hemiplegic hand function in stroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods From March to September 2021, 86 hemiplegia patients after stroke were selected from the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation in Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The patients included were randomly divided into experimental group and control group with 43 cases in each group. The control group received routine medical treatment, nursing and rehabilitation training, and the experimental group received hot medicated compress on the three yang meridians of hand with moxa-salt additionally for once a day, 30 minutes each time, and 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Motor function of the upper limb, upper limb joint range of motion, and hemiplegic hand function were evaluated before intervention, 2 and 4 weeks after intervention. Results Eighty-one cases completed the trial, with 40 cases in the experimental group, and 41 cases in the control group. There was no statistical difference in upper limb motor function between the two groups after 2 weeks of intervention（P>0.05）, and the upper limb motor function of the experimental group was better than that of the control group after 4 weeks of intervention（P<0.05）.In terms of the range of motion of the upper limb, after 2 weeks of intervention, the range of motion in shoulder flexion, shoulder extension, shoulder abduction, shoulder pronation and elbow flexion of the experimental group were better than that of the control group（P<0.05）, and after 4 weeks of intervention, the range of motion of shoulder flexion, shoulder extension, shoulder abduction, internal rotation, external rotation, elbow flexion, carpal flexion and carpal dorsi extension in the experimental group were better than that in the control group（P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in hemiplegic hand function between the two groups after intervention for 2 and 4 weeks（P>0.05）. Conclusion Hot medicated compress on the three yang meridians of hand with moxa-salt can effectively improve the motor function of the upper limb and upper limb joint range of motion in stroke patients, however, it has no significant effect on improving hemiplegic hand function.

Key words: stroke, upper limb motor function, moxa-salt, hot medicated compress, the three yang meridians of hand