Does acupuncture help patients with spasticity? A narrative review.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Spasticity, a motor disorder from upper motor neuron lesions, significantly impacts patient quality of life and incurs substantial care costs.
• Conventional spasticity treatments (physical therapy, surgery, pharmacotherapy) often have limitations, including short-term effects or side effects.
• Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine, is increasingly explored for its potential in neurological rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize existing research on the efficacy and mechanisms of acupuncture for spasticity following upper motor neuron lesions.
• To provide an overview of acupuncture's effects across various neurological conditions, including stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and synthesis of studies investigating acupuncture's impact on spasticity.
• Analysis of evidence from diverse central nervous system injury models.

Main Results:

• Moderate-quality evidence indicates that electroacupuncture, when integrated with conventional care (pharmacological/rehabilitation), can effectively reduce spasticity and enhance motor function and daily living activities in stroke patients.
• Insufficient evidence currently supports the use of acupuncture for spasticity management in other central nervous system diseases.

Conclusions:

• Electroacupuncture offers a promising adjunctive therapy for post-stroke spasticity, improving both motor function and quality of life.
• Further research is required to establish the efficacy of acupuncture for spasticity associated with other neurological conditions.