OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to summarize and evaluate evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving the spasticity after stroke.

METHODS: Six electronic databases, PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and three Korean medical databases, were searched from inception until December 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included if acupuncture was compared to placebo or other conventional therapy for treatment of spasticity after stroke. Assessments were performed primarily with Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS).

RESULTS: A total of 398 possibly relevant articles were identified, of which 8 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed that acupuncture is effective in reducing the spasticity after stroke, as assessed by MAS (weighted mean difference, 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38–1.20; P<0.001). Heterogeneity could be explained by the differences in control, acupoints, and the duration after stroke occurrence.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that acupuncture could be effective for treating spasticity after stroke. However, larger scale and more rigorous clinical trials are needed to confirm the role of acupuncture in the treatment of this disorder.