Observation on the Efficacy of Acupuncture in Treating Upper Limb Motor Dysfunction in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke During the Recovery Period

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for upper limb motor dysfunction in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) during the convalescent stage. Methods Methods between May 2021 and May 2024, 260 patients with AIS in the convalescent stage were enrolled from the Department of Neurology, 908 Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA, and randomly allocated to a control group or an observation group. The treatment period lasted 4 weeks. Outcomes assessed included overall efficacy, upper limb motor function, cognitive performance, neurological deficit severity, ability in daily living activities, serum neurotrophic markers, and safety. Results The observation group showed a significantly higher overall response rate compared with the control group (χ²=12.783, P<0.001). After treatment, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores as well as serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) concentrations increased significantly in both groups (P<0.05). The extent of improvement was greater in the observation group (P<0.05). At the same time, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Neurological Deficit Function (NDF) scores decreased notably in both cohorts (P<0.05), with the observation group achieving a more pronounced reduction (P<0.05). Throughout the study, no treatment-related safety concerns were detected in either group. Conclusion In patients with AIS during the recovery stage, adjunctive acupuncture produced better outcomes than low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation alone. It promoted upper limb functional recovery, improved cognition, reduced neurological impairment, and enhanced quality of life, while also showing good safety and overall effectiveness.