Clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of spastic hemiplegia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ObjectiveAntagonistic muscles rehabilitation training has been extensively utilized in the rehabilitation of patients with spastic hemiplegia. With the increasing acceptance and application of acupuncture, numerous scholars have discovered that incorporating electroacupuncture combined with antagoni...

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Main Authors: Jingyue Liu, Xiang Meng, Yana He, Hailun Jiang, Jieying Zhang, Jinyuan Shi, Jingshu Zhang, Menglong Zhang, Fei Cai, Shizhe Deng, Jiangwei Shi, Zhihong Meng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1634845/full
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author Jingyue Liu
Jingyue Liu
Jingyue Liu
Xiang Meng
Yana He
Yana He
Hailun Jiang
Hailun Jiang
Hailun Jiang
Jieying Zhang
Jieying Zhang
Jinyuan Shi
Jinyuan Shi
Jinyuan Shi
Jingshu Zhang
Jingshu Zhang
Menglong Zhang
Menglong Zhang
Menglong Zhang
Fei Cai
Fei Cai
Shizhe Deng
Shizhe Deng
Jiangwei Shi
Jiangwei Shi
Zhihong Meng
Zhihong Meng
author_facet Jingyue Liu
Jingyue Liu
Jingyue Liu
Xiang Meng
Yana He
Yana He
Hailun Jiang
Hailun Jiang
Hailun Jiang
Jieying Zhang
Jieying Zhang
Jinyuan Shi
Jinyuan Shi
Jinyuan Shi
Jingshu Zhang
Jingshu Zhang
Menglong Zhang
Menglong Zhang
Menglong Zhang
Fei Cai
Fei Cai
Shizhe Deng
Shizhe Deng
Jiangwei Shi
Jiangwei Shi
Zhihong Meng
Zhihong Meng
author_sort Jingyue Liu
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveAntagonistic muscles rehabilitation training has been extensively utilized in the rehabilitation of patients with spastic hemiplegia. With the increasing acceptance and application of acupuncture, numerous scholars have discovered that incorporating electroacupuncture combined with antagonistic muscles rehabilitation training can enhance the treatment for spastic hemiplegia after stroke. The objective of this study is quantify the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in treating spastic hemiplegia after stroke on the basis of antagonistic muscles rehabilitation training, provide insights for future clinical treatments and scientific investigations related to spastic hemiplegia.MethodsWe searched eight Chinese and English databases to identify clinical randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training for the treatment of spastic hemiplegia after stroke. The search period extended from the inception of each database up to April 4, 2025. Two researchers independently reviewed the literatures, extracted relevant data, and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.ResultsA total of 8 literatures were selected from an initial pool of 1,680 for the purpose of meta-analysis. The findings indicated that the combination of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles with rehabilitation training significantly alleviates muscle spasms in hemiplegic limbs [MD = –0.52,95%CI (−0.91, −0.13), p = 0.36, I2 = 0%, Z = 2.6, p < 0.05], enhances daily living capabilities [MD = 6.31,95%CI (3.91,8.71), p = 0.02, I2 = 59%, Z = 5.15, p < 0.05], improve motor function [MD = 9.9,95%CI (8.25,11.55), p = 0.2, I2 = 33%, Z = 11.75, p < 0.05]. Furthermore, we discovered that when the wave type and frequency of electroacupuncture are low frequency intermittent waves, electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training can effectively improve the lower limb motor function of hemiplegic patients. [MD = 10.52,95%CI (8.66,12.37), p = 0.89, I2 = 0%, Z = 11.11, p < 0.05], and electroacupuncture combined with Bobath technique is better than combined with conventional rehabilitation training.ConclusionThe integration of electroacupuncture treatment with antagonist muscle rehabilitation training can effectively alleviate muscle spasms, reduce muscle tension, and enhance lower limb motor function as well as daily living abilities.
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spelling doaj-art-968b2bd60def48ada01914b38adf53e62025-08-20T03:41:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-08-011610.3389/fneur.2025.16348451634845Clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of spastic hemiplegia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsJingyue Liu0Jingyue Liu1Jingyue Liu2Xiang Meng3Yana He4Yana He5Hailun Jiang6Hailun Jiang7Hailun Jiang8Jieying Zhang9Jieying Zhang10Jinyuan Shi11Jinyuan Shi12Jinyuan Shi13Jingshu Zhang14Jingshu Zhang15Menglong Zhang16Menglong Zhang17Menglong Zhang18Fei Cai19Fei Cai20Shizhe Deng21Shizhe Deng22Jiangwei Shi23Jiangwei Shi24Zhihong Meng25Zhihong Meng26National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaFirst Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaTianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaShanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaFirst Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaFirst Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaTianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaFirst Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaFirst Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaTianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaFirst Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaFirst Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaTianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaFirst Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaFirst Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaFirst Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaFirst Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaObjectiveAntagonistic muscles rehabilitation training has been extensively utilized in the rehabilitation of patients with spastic hemiplegia. With the increasing acceptance and application of acupuncture, numerous scholars have discovered that incorporating electroacupuncture combined with antagonistic muscles rehabilitation training can enhance the treatment for spastic hemiplegia after stroke. The objective of this study is quantify the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in treating spastic hemiplegia after stroke on the basis of antagonistic muscles rehabilitation training, provide insights for future clinical treatments and scientific investigations related to spastic hemiplegia.MethodsWe searched eight Chinese and English databases to identify clinical randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training for the treatment of spastic hemiplegia after stroke. The search period extended from the inception of each database up to April 4, 2025. Two researchers independently reviewed the literatures, extracted relevant data, and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.ResultsA total of 8 literatures were selected from an initial pool of 1,680 for the purpose of meta-analysis. The findings indicated that the combination of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles with rehabilitation training significantly alleviates muscle spasms in hemiplegic limbs [MD = –0.52,95%CI (−0.91, −0.13), p = 0.36, I2 = 0%, Z = 2.6, p < 0.05], enhances daily living capabilities [MD = 6.31,95%CI (3.91,8.71), p = 0.02, I2 = 59%, Z = 5.15, p < 0.05], improve motor function [MD = 9.9,95%CI (8.25,11.55), p = 0.2, I2 = 33%, Z = 11.75, p < 0.05]. Furthermore, we discovered that when the wave type and frequency of electroacupuncture are low frequency intermittent waves, electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training can effectively improve the lower limb motor function of hemiplegic patients. [MD = 10.52,95%CI (8.66,12.37), p = 0.89, I2 = 0%, Z = 11.11, p < 0.05], and electroacupuncture combined with Bobath technique is better than combined with conventional rehabilitation training.ConclusionThe integration of electroacupuncture treatment with antagonist muscle rehabilitation training can effectively alleviate muscle spasms, reduce muscle tension, and enhance lower limb motor function as well as daily living abilities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1634845/fullspastic hemiplegiaantagonistic musclesrehabilitation trainingsystematic reviewmeta-analysiselectroacupuncture
spellingShingle Jingyue Liu
Jingyue Liu
Jingyue Liu
Xiang Meng
Yana He
Yana He
Hailun Jiang
Hailun Jiang
Hailun Jiang
Jieying Zhang
Jieying Zhang
Jinyuan Shi
Jinyuan Shi
Jinyuan Shi
Jingshu Zhang
Jingshu Zhang
Menglong Zhang
Menglong Zhang
Menglong Zhang
Fei Cai
Fei Cai
Shizhe Deng
Shizhe Deng
Jiangwei Shi
Jiangwei Shi
Zhihong Meng
Zhihong Meng
Clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of spastic hemiplegia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Frontiers in Neurology
spastic hemiplegia
antagonistic muscles
rehabilitation training
systematic review
meta-analysis
electroacupuncture
title Clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of spastic hemiplegia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_full Clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of spastic hemiplegia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_fullStr Clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of spastic hemiplegia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_full_unstemmed Clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of spastic hemiplegia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_short Clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of spastic hemiplegia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_sort clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture antagonistic muscles combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of spastic hemiplegia after stroke a systematic review and meta analysis of randomized controlled trials
topic spastic hemiplegia
antagonistic muscles
rehabilitation training
systematic review
meta-analysis
electroacupuncture
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1634845/full
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