Acupuncture for functional recovery after stroke: a systematic review of sham-controlled randomized clinical trials.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Acupuncture is frequently advocated as an adjunct treatment during stroke rehabilitation. The aim of this review was to assess its effectiveness in this setting.

Methods

We searched 25 databases and 12 major Korean traditional medicine journals from their inception to October 2009. We included randomized controlled trials, with no language restrictions, that compared the effects of acupuncture (with or without electrical stimulation) with sham acupuncture. We assessed the methodologic quality of the trials using the Cochrane risk-of-bias criteria and the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) scale.

Results

Ten of 664 potentially relevant studies met our inclusion criteria. For acute and subacute stages after stroke, we included seven trials. A meta-analys

SUBMITTER: Kong JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2972322 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature