Acupuncture can help restore motor functions after a stroke

The experiment involved 56 stroke patients. They were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to a group of real acupuncture and a group of sham acupuncture (simulated procedure). The course lasted two weeks.

Only the participants in the real acupuncture group showed significant improvements in motor function tests. Additionally, the researchers observed a positive correlation between increased gray matter volume in specific brain regions and improved motor skills in the limbs.

The changes affected the right opercular part of the inferior frontal gyrus, the postcentral gyrus, and the cerebellum. The authors of the study suggest that these structural changes in the brain may be the basis for the therapeutic effects of acupuncture. According to them, these modulations contribute to improved movement initiation, execution, control, and coordination. In other words, the effects of acupuncture trigger central mechanisms that help the body recover motor skills after a stroke.

The results of the work open up new prospects for the rehabilitation of stroke patients and confirm the potential of acupuncture as an auxiliary method of recovery. However, additional research with a larger number of patients and a longer follow-up program will be required for more accurate conclusions and the implementation of the technique in widespread clinical practice.