Efficacy of acupuncture in the functioning of the upper and lower limbs in patients after a stroke: A narrative review

Abstract

Stroke is the second most common cause of death in the world and is one of the leading causes of disability and dependence of older adults for care. Acupuncture for the treatment of stroke has been used in China for thousands of years and is constantly gaining ground in the medical community of the western world. The aim of this review is to describe through recent research data the efficacy of acupuncture in improving the functioning of individuals after a stroke. Data for both the upper and lower limbs were included in this work. The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched with the following keywords: Stroke, Acupuncture, disability, Rehabilitation. Both clinical studies and systematic reviews were included in the review, with nine articles included in total. In conclusion, the application of acupuncture seems to have a positive effect on the treatment of motor disorders after a stroke. The results of this review show that acupuncture can contribute and provide significant benefits in improving motor and functional limitations that occur after a stroke and is able to improve the functional level of patients.