Moxibustion for stroke rehabilitation: systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
Positive effects of moxibustion for stroke rehabilitation may be seen in real clinical practice. Currently, no systematic reviews are available. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the trial data on the effectiveness of moxibustion for stroke rehabilitation.


METHODS
Fourteen databases were searched without language restriction. Randomized clinical trials were included if moxibustion was tested as the sole treatment or as an adjunct to other treatments for stroke rehabilitation.


RESULTS
Nine randomized clinical trials met our inclusion criteria. Three randomized clinical trials reported favorable effects of moxibustion plus standard care on motor function versus standard care alone (N=142; standardized mean difference=0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.37 to 1.08; P<0.0001). Three randomized clinical trials compared the effects of moxibustion on activities of daily living alone but failed to show favorable effects of moxibustion.


CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review found limited effectiveness of moxibustion as an adjunct to standard care in stroke rehabilitation.
Myeong Soo
MS
Lee
Byung-Cheul
BC
Shin
Jong-In
JI
Kim
Chang-ho
CH
Han
Edzard
E
Ernst
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D009071:Moxibustion; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome