Progress on acupuncture in relieving stroke induced limb spasticity by regulating neuroplasticity-related signals

Stroke may cause upper motor neurons lesions, and thus limb spasm may occur. Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt the environment and experience when the nervous system is damaged. Acupuncture can relieve the relevant pathological status due to stroke by enhancing brain plasticity. Specifically, acupuncture may finally achieve the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters by inhibiting the expression of neurotransmitter GABA, neurotrophic factor BDNF and proteins related to synaptic plasticity. This article analyzed and summarized that taking advantage of nervous plasticity the acupuncture could regenerate nervous cells and restore the related regulation of the movement by upper motor neurons, so as to relieving limb spasticity. It also summarized the research and application of acupuncture in regulating related signals, providing a systematic thought for the future study on acupuncture in the treatment of stroke induced limb.