Effectiveness of scalp acupuncture therapy combined with training on limb movement disorders after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q3 INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

European Journal of Integrative Medicine Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI:10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102432

Yenan Tian , Peizhen Zhao , Yongjun Peng

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Stroke patients often suffer from different degrees of disability, among which limb movement disorders (LMDs) are the most prevalent. Scalp acupuncture (SA) therapy combined with training has been widely used for LMD treatment after stroke. Whether SA therapy combined with training is superior to monotherapy or other therapies remains unknown. This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of SA therapy combined with training for LMDs after stroke.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were thoroughly searched for studies from inception to November 23, 2024. Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) were used to evaluate the effectiveness of SA therapy combined with training in treating LMDs after stroke. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) were calculated.

Results

A total of 4345 records were initially identified, and 26 studies were finally included. Compared to simple training, SA therapy combined with training had significant effects in the total score of FMA (WMD= 10.01, 95 %CI= 2.24, 17.78), the upper-extremity score of FMA (WMD= 6.35, 95 %CI=4.11, 8.59), the lower-extremity score of FMA (WMD= 2.69, 95 %CI= 1.49, 3.90), MAS (WMD= -0.47, 95 %CI= -0.72, -0.22), BBS (WMD= 3.52, 95 %CI= 0.55, 6.48), and MBI (WMD= 7.72, 95 %CI= 4.97, 9.56). No significant difference was found in adverse events (RR= 6.97, 95 %CI= 2.10, 23.11, P = 0.33). More significant effects in FMA-L and MAS were revealed after 12 weeks of treatment (all P _interaction<0.01).

Conclusion

SA therapy combined with training can significantly improve FMA, MAS, BBS, and MBI to enhance limb function, with favorable safety profiles. 12 weeks of SA therapy combined with training often yields better improvements in lower limb motor function and limb spasticity. More RCTs of higher quality are needed to provide reliable support for these conclusions.

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来源期刊

European Journal of Integrative Medicine INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE-

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

4.00%

发文量

102

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： The European Journal of Integrative Medicine (EuJIM) considers manuscripts from a wide range of complementary and integrative health care disciplines, with a particular focus on whole systems approaches, public health, self management and traditional medical systems. The journal strives to connect conventional medicine and evidence based complementary medicine. We encourage submissions reporting research with relevance for integrative clinical practice and interprofessional education. EuJIM aims to be of interest to both conventional and integrative audiences, including healthcare practitioners, researchers, health care organisations, educationalists, and all those who seek objective and critical information on integrative medicine. To achieve this aim EuJIM provides an innovative international and interdisciplinary platform linking researchers and clinicians. The journal focuses primarily on original research articles including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, other clinical studies, qualitative, observational and epidemiological studies. In addition we welcome short reviews, opinion articles and contributions relating to health services and policy, health economics and psychology.