Acupuncture for Post-Stroke Lower Limb Dysfunction: Clinical Efficacy and Neurophysiological Mechanisms

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Integrative Medicine
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Lower limb dysfunction is a common and debilitating post-stroke complication.
• It significantly impacts patients' quality of life and functional independence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize recent clinical research on acupuncture for post-stroke lower limb dysfunction.
• To integrate Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theories with modern evidence.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of clinical studies and TCM theoretical perspectives.
• Review of various acupuncture techniques including body acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and moxibustion.

Main Results:

• Acupuncture therapies demonstrated significant efficacy in improving motor coordination, reducing muscle tone, and enhancing voluntary movement.
• Effective rates ranged from 70% to 95.5% across studies.
• Mechanisms include regulation of cerebral blood flow, reduced ischemic-reperfusion injury, modulated neuroinflammation, and promoted neural regeneration.

Conclusions:

• Acupuncture shows considerable potential for treating post-stroke lower limb dysfunction.
• Potential mechanisms involve modulation of cerebral blood flow, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neural plasticity.
• Further research is needed to standardize protocols and conduct large multicenter trials.