Acupuncture can aid in regaining mobility subsequent to a stroke by inducing alterations in the brain’s structure. This conclusion was reached by researchers from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine during their study, the outcomes of which have been published in the journal CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics.
The study involved 56 individuals who had experienced a stroke. For a period of two weeks, a portion of the participants underwent traditional acupuncture sessions. Meanwhile, members of the control group received a sham procedure, involving stimulation of inactive points not associated with therapeutic benefits.
The most significant improvements in motor functions were observed in patients who completed the course of genuine acupuncture. These individuals demonstrated superior performance in tasks involving hand and leg movements and exhibited higher recovery rates post-stroke.
To elucidate the underlying mechanism of this effect, the researchers conducted brain scans on the participants. These scans revealed that the acupuncture treatment led to an increase in gray matter volume within brain regions responsible for motor control, planning, and coordination. The more pronounced the structural changes, the greater the recovery of limb mobility.
The study’s authors posit that these findings indicate acupuncture’s capacity to influence neuroplasticity – the process by which neural connections reorganize in response to brain damage. Through this mechanism, the brain partially compensates for the effects of a stroke and restores lost functions.
While larger-scale clinical trials are necessary for definitive confirmation of the method’s efficacy, the already acquired data are encouraging, according to the authors.
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