Ru-Lan Hsieh, Liang-Yi Wang and Wen-Chung Lee
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-0032

Objective: This study examined the additional therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture for patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke.
Design: Randomized controlled study.
Subjects: A total of 63 patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke.
Methods: The study and control groups underwent a conventional rehabilitation program, with the former receiving an additional 8 courses of electroacupuncture over a period of one month. Therapeutic effects were assessed by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for motor performance and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM™) for the independence of functional performance at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, and 3 months and 6 months after stroke.
Results: For total Fugl-Meyer Assessment score, improvement was more significant for the study group relative to the control group at 2 weeks (16. 2 vs 10. 6; p = 0. 047) and 4 weeks after treatment (27. 4 vs 17. 1; p = 0. 005), and at 3 months after the stroke (34. 7 vs 21. 8; p = 0. 009). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores improved significantly, especially in upper-limb motor function for the study group. There was no statistically significant between-group difference in total FIM™ score improvement.
Conclusion: Electroacupuncture can improve motor function, especially in upper-limb motor function, for patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke.