Clinical trial of electrical acupuncture on hemiplegic stroke patients

To assess the efficacy of electrical acupuncture in the rehabilitation of p atients with hemiplegia in stroke, we randomized 128 patients within 2 wk o f stroke onset to receive either comprehensive rehabilitation plus electric al acupuncture (n = 59) or comprehensive rehabilitation only (n = 59). Elec trical acupuncture was administered by electrical stimulation of acupunctur e points through adhesive surface electrodes five times per week. Neurologi cal status (Brunnstrom's stage) and the Chinese version of the Functional I ndependence Measure were assessed before treatment and at discharge. Patien ts treated with electrical acupuncture had a shorter duration of hospital s tay for rehabilitation and better neurological and functional outcomes than the control group had, with a significant difference in scores for self-ca re and locomotion (P = 0.02). This result did not postulate the previous st udy that acupuncture therapy for stroke patients should depend on needle ma nual and "de qi" response. We suggest that electrical acupuncture through a dhesive surface electrodes in conjunction with current optimal rehabilitati on programs is a convenient and effective therapy for stroke patients.