A randomized controlled trial comparing electroacupuncture with manual acupuncture for motor function recovery after ischemic stroke

Acupuncture and electroacupuncture have been used as treatment approaches to improve the motor function of stroke patients. This comparative effectiveness study was carried to compare the efficacy of electroacupuncture and acupuncture (needling alone) on motor function recovery in patients who had experienced a cerebral ischemic stroke. Sixty cases were randomised into either an electroacupuncture group (EAG) or an acupuncture needling alone group (AG). The selected acupoints for both groups were the same, while the acupuncture manipulation applied was different. In AG, manual stimulation was applied to the body acupoints, while for EAG, the needles were connected to EA Stimulators. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FMA) and the Barthel Index were used to assess motor function status. CT perfusion imaging and the plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were analyzed and compared. EAG when compared to AG demonstrated significant improvements in the NIHSS (4.52 ± 1.38 versus 5.71 ± 1.83, p < 0.05), Barthel index (25.42 ± 8.66 versus 39.15 ± 11.78, p < 0.05) and FMA (14.21 ± 4.82 versus 23.02 ± 6.20, P < 0.05) as well as significant improvements in cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood volume (P < 0.05). The expression levels of VEGF in peripheral blood serum of the patients in EAG were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The results suggest that electroacupuncture can be beneficial and have a superior effect in the recovery of motor function for patients with cerebral ischemic stroke, by increasing the levels of VEGF in the peripheral blood serum, cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood volume, compared with the acupuncture (needling alone).