Acupuncture can improve motor aphasia after stroke

Acupuncture may improve language function in patients with post-stroke motor aphasia, according to a study published online on January 22. JAMA network open.

Boxuan Li and colleagues from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China investigated the effects of acupuncture on language function, neurological function, and quality of life in patients with post-stroke motor aphasia. The analysis included 252 adult patients with post-stroke motor aphasia (from October 21, 2019 to November 13, 2021) who were randomly assigned to receive 6 weeks of manual acupuncture or sham acupuncture. Ta.

Researchers found that compared to sham treatment, the manual acupuncture group had lower Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia Quotient (AQ) (difference, 7.99 points) and Chinese Functional Communication Profile (CFCP) scores (difference, 23.51 points). We found that there was a significant increase in the number of weeks. 6. These significant improvements persisted at 6-month follow-up (AQ: difference, 10.34; CFCP: difference, 27.43).

“Study results confirm that post-stroke motor aphasia is the main symptom affected by acupuncture and indicate that acupuncture may serve as an adjunctive treatment for patients with post-stroke motor aphasia.” the authors write. “Furthermore, the clinical efficacy and safety results provide evidence for policy makers, clinicians, and patients regarding the management of post-stroke aphasia with acupuncture.”