{"title":"Acupuncture for Ischemic Stroke: A Critical Evaluation of Biological Mechanisms and Methodological Challenges.","authors":"Yining Wang, Hongtao Yu, Yuyu Chen, Yuxin Hu, Haichun Zhou, Jian Zhao","doi":"10.2147/IJGM.S535590","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ischemic stroke (IS) is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, creating an urgent need for effective adjunctive therapies to complement conventional treatments. Acupuncture has emerged as a widely investigated intervention for post-stroke recovery. This review provides a critical evaluation of the proposed biological mechanisms underlying acupuncture's effects in IS. We synthesize evidence from preclinical and clinical studies on its potential to promote the dynamic repair of the neurovascular unit (NVU), modulate intercellular communication, improve cerebral hemodynamics, enhance angiogenesis, and support neurorestoration. While a significant body of preclinical evidence suggests multifaceted benefits, we highlight a critical translational gap and the methodological limitations that currently temper clinical certainty. Key challenges include the heterogeneity of treatment protocols, the complexity of sham controls, and a frequent lack of objective biomarkers. Consequently, we conclude by outlining a clear agenda for future research, emphasizing the need for protocol standardization, rigorous large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and the integration of biomarkers to bridge the gap between proposed mechanisms and validated clinical outcomes. This critical perspective aims to guide future research toward definitively establishing acupuncture's role in the stroke care continuum.</p>","PeriodicalId":14131,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of General Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"5379-5393"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12435512/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of General Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S535590","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Ischemic stroke (IS) is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, creating an urgent need for effective adjunctive therapies to complement conventional treatments. Acupuncture has emerged as a widely investigated intervention for post-stroke recovery. This review provides a critical evaluation of the proposed biological mechanisms underlying acupuncture's effects in IS. We synthesize evidence from preclinical and clinical studies on its potential to promote the dynamic repair of the neurovascular unit (NVU), modulate intercellular communication, improve cerebral hemodynamics, enhance angiogenesis, and support neurorestoration. While a significant body of preclinical evidence suggests multifaceted benefits, we highlight a critical translational gap and the methodological limitations that currently temper clinical certainty. Key challenges include the heterogeneity of treatment protocols, the complexity of sham controls, and a frequent lack of objective biomarkers. Consequently, we conclude by outlining a clear agenda for future research, emphasizing the need for protocol standardization, rigorous large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and the integration of biomarkers to bridge the gap between proposed mechanisms and validated clinical outcomes. This critical perspective aims to guide future research toward definitively establishing acupuncture's role in the stroke care continuum.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of General Medicine is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal that focuses on general and internal medicine, pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment protocols. The journal is characterized by the rapid reporting of reviews, original research and clinical studies across all disease areas.
A key focus of the journal is the elucidation of disease processes and management protocols resulting in improved outcomes for the patient. Patient perspectives such as satisfaction, quality of life, health literacy and communication and their role in developing new healthcare programs and optimizing clinical outcomes are major areas of interest for the journal.
As of 1st April 2019, the International Journal of General Medicine will no longer consider meta-analyses for publication.