Research Progress in Acupuncture-Assisted Rehabilitation for Post-Stroke Hemiplegia

Abstract

Post-stroke hemiplegia is one of the most common and typical functional impairments after stroke. It is mainly characterized by reduced motor function of the affected limbs, impaired gait and balance, and limitations in activities of daily living, thereby exerting a profound impact on prognosis and quality of life. In recent years, acupuncture-assisted rehabilitation, a comprehensive treatment approach combining acupuncture with modern rehabilitation training, has attracted increasing attention in the rehabilitation of post-stroke hemiplegia. During acupuncture needle retention, patients perform active movement, task-oriented training, gait training, and balance training simultaneously, which may activate a synergistic mechanism of “acupuncture stimulation–sensory feedback–motor learning–central nervous system remodeling,” thereby promoting neurological recovery and motor functional reconstruction. Existing evidence suggests that acupuncture-assisted rehabilitation has favorable effects in improving limb motor function, promoting gait and balance recovery, alleviating spasticity, and improving swallowing function. This review summarizes recent domestic clinical applications, characteristics of different acupuncture methods, and mechanistic studies related to acupuncture-assisted rehabilitation for post-stroke hemiplegia over the past five years, with the aim of providing a practical reference for standardized clinical application.