Combined use of acupuncture and occupational therapy in stroke
literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54296/18186173_2026_3_22Keywords:
acupuncture, occupational therapy, stroke, upper limb rehabilitation, neuroplasticity, spasticity, functional magnetic resonance imagingAbstract
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of persistent disability worldwide: according to the Global Burden of Disease 2021, 93.8 million stroke survivors have been registered worldwide, with 11.9 million new cases reported annually. Upper limb motor disorders persist in 55-75% of patients 6 months after the vascular event, which significantly limits functional independence and quality of life. Occupational therapy is a key component of rehabilitation, but full recovery with severe paresis is achieved only in 5-20% of patients. In recent years, the combined use of acupuncture and occupational therapy has attracted increasing attention as a potential way to enhance the rehabilitation effect.
The purpose of this review is to systematize and quantify the results of clinical studies on the combined use of acupuncture and occupational therapy in patients after stroke, published in the period 2021-2025. The analysis of randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses devoted to evaluating the effectiveness of combined intervention in relation to motor recovery, spasticity, neuroplasticity and quality of life was carried out. It has been shown that the addition of acupuncture to occupational therapy provides a statistically significant increase in motor function and a decrease in spasticity with moderate or large effect size. The optimal time interval is 30 minutes after the occupational therapy session. Contradictions concerning the acute phase of stroke have been identified, as well as the lack of uniform standards for dosing and selection of acupuncture points. Neurobiological mechanisms of synergy, electrophysiological predictors of effectiveness and economic feasibility of the method are discussed.
References
1. Методы немедикаментозной коррекции в реабилитации пациентов с постинсультными двигательными расстройствами (обзор литературы) / С.И. Нарейко, К.М. Назарова, Л.Г. Агасаров, Н.Н. Зубарева // Вестник новых медицинских технологий. Электронное издание. – 2026. – Т.20, №2. – С.127–133. – DOI 10.24412/2075-4094-2026-2-1-14. – EDN AOTSOV.
2. Валидация русскоязычной версии шкалы Фугл-Мейера для оценки состояния пациентов с постинсультным парезом / Н.А. Супонева, Д.Г. Юсупова, А.А. Зимин [и др.] // Журнал неврологии и психиатрии им. С.С. Корсакова. Спецвыпуски. – 2021; 121(8‑2):86‑90.
3. A very early rehabilitation trial for stroke (AVERT) phase II safety and feasibility / J. Bernhardt, H. Dewey, A. Thrift [et al.] // Stroke. – 2008;39(2):390–396.
4. Chen, A. Acupuncture for post-stroke cognitive impairment: mechanisms and clinical evidence (2020–2025) /
A. Chen, L. Wang, H. Liu // Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. – 2026;22:593288.
5. Chen, X. Effects of electroacupuncture synchronised with motor imagery training on upper limb motor recovery and neural mechanisms in ischaemic stroke: protocol for a single-centre, randomised controlled trial / X. Chen, Y. Zhao, Q. Li // BMJ Open. – 2025;15(11):e107912.
6. GBD 2021 Stroke Risk Factor Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of stroke and its risk factors, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Neurol. – 2024; 23(10):973-1003.
7. Translation, validity, and reliability of the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE) in Persian speaking stroke patients / Hassani Z. [et al.]. – 2022.
8. Kim, G.Y. The clinical effect of manual therapy including Tuina (or Chuna) on post-stroke shoulder hand syndrome – a literature review / G.Y. Kim, W.S. Sung, E.J. Kim // Frontiers in Neurology. – 2026;17:1820005.
9. Standardized measurement of sensorimotor recovery in stroke trials: consensus-based core recommendations from the stroke recovery and rehabilitation roundtable / G. Kwakkel, N.A. Lannin, K. Borschmann [et al.] // International Journal of Stroke. – 2017;12(5):451–461.
10. Lin, J.G. Understandings of acupuncture application and mechanisms / J.G. Lin, P. Kotha, Y.H. Chen // American Journal of Translational Research. – 2022;14(3):1469.
11. Effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation on cognitive and motor functions in poststroke patients / X. Bao [et al.] // The Anatomical Record. – 2021. – Т.304. – №.11. – С.2531–2537.
12. Effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on serum BDNF and motor learning in the upper-limb in patients after chronic-stroke: a randomized, controlled feasibility study with embedded health economic evaluation / C. Maguire [et al.] // NeuroRehabilitation. – 2023;52(3):485–506.
13. Acupuncture therapy for poststroke spastic hemiplegia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials / W. Fan [et al.] // Complementary therapies in clinical practice. – 2020. – Т.40. – С.101176.
14. Comparative effects of 2 Hz vs. 100 Hz transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on upper limb motor function post-stroke: design and rationale for a randomized trial / C. Song [et al.] // Frontiers in Neurology. – 2025;16:1641781.
15. Enhancing symptom relief and quality of life in patients with stroke-induced spastic hemiplegia: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of acupuncture modalities’ effectiveness / Y. Su [et al.] // American Journal of Translational Research. – 2025;17(10):8187.
16. Effect of various acupuncture courses for upper limb motor dysfunction after ischemic stroke: a Bayesian network meta-analysis / C. Wang [et al.] // Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. – 2025;17:1668293.
17. Combination of electroacupuncture and constraint-induced movement therapy enhances functional recovery after ischemic stroke in rats / D. Wang [et al.] // Journal of Molecular Neuroscience. – 2021;71(10):2116–2125.
18. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical efficacy of early and late rehabilitation interventions for ischemic stroke / X. Wei [et al.] // BMC Neurology. – 2024;24(1):91.
19. Perceptions and use of complementary and integrative health practices among rehabilitation professionals: a survey / P.S. Wen [et al.] // European Journal of Integrative Medicine. – 2022;55:102173.
20. Acupuncture combined with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation for upper limb motor function after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis / Y. Xie [et al.] // NeuroRehabilitation. – 2023;53(4):423–438.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Reproduction of any materials without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited.
The responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in articles and advertisements are the authors and advertisers.
