Assessing efficacy and safety of dynamic scalp acupuncture for post-stroke rehabilitation: systematic review and...

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide highlighting the need for effective rehabilitation strategies to improve functional recovery. Dynamic Scalp Acupuncture (DSA), which combines scalp acupuncture with concurrent task-oriented training, has emerged as a potentially beneficial intervention for stroke rehabilitation. However, evidence regarding DSA has not been systematically synthesized as a distinct task-integrated rehabilitation approach. This protocol outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DSA in stroke rehabilitation. This study will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search will be performed in international databases, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; Chinese databases, including the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang; and Korean databases, including the Research Information Sharing Service, Korean Studies Information Service System, and Korea Medical database. Eligible studies will be RCTs evaluating DSA either as a standalone intervention or as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation in adults with stroke. The primary outcome will be motor function. Secondary outcomes will include activities of daily living and adverse events, while exploratory outcomes will include neurological impairment, balance, spasticity, health-related quality of life, and depression. Two reviewers will independently conduct study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Where appropriate, meta-analyses will be performed using a random-effects model, and the certainty of evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations. Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. This systematic review is expected to provide up-to-date evidence on the efficacy and safety of DSA for stroke rehabilitation. The findings may inform clinical practice and policy, and help guide future research.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251117520, Identifier CRD420251117520.