To explore the influence of Modified Bazhen Decoction (八珍汤加减) on skeletal muscle index and lower limb function in patients with stroke complicated with sarcopenia.

A total of196 stroke patients with sarcopenia in the hospital were selected from March 2021 to March 2024, and were randomly divided into study group and control group by using the random number table method, with 98 cases in each group. The control group was treated with daily rehabilitation therapy, while the study group was combined with oral administration of Modified Bazhen Decoction on the basis of the control group. The changes of TCMsyndromes scores, skeletal muscle index and grip strength were compared between groups before and after treatment. Timed Up and Go test (TUG) was used to evaluate the walking ability of the two groups before and after treatment. Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) was adopted to evaluate the lower limb balance ability of the two groups before and after treatment, and the lower limb exercise tolerance in the two groups was recorded before and after treatment.

After treatment, the scores of hemiplegia, limb weakness, hemianesthesia, hand and foot swelling, shortness of breath, and palpitation and spontaneous sweating in the two groups were decreased (P<0.05), the TUG was shortened (P<0.05), and the skeletal muscle index, grip strength, POMA and maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂ max), maximum power and the exhaustion time of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) were increased (P<0.05). The scores of hemiplegia, limb weakness, hemianesthesia, hand and foot swelling, shortness of breath, and palpitation and spontaneous sweating in the study group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), the TUG was shorter (P<0.05), and the skeletal muscle index, grip strength, POMA and VO₂ max, maximum power and the exhaustion time of CPET were higher (P<0.05) .

Modified Bazhen Decoction has the exact efficacy in the treatment of stroke with sarcopenia. It can effectively improve the muscle strength level and lower limb walking function and balance function, and enhance the exercise tolerance of patients.