title: The effect of acupuncture on stroke recovery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in China. Current treatments for stroke are limited and achieve no optimal effect. Acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of stroke and in improving the quality of life for patients in China. In most previous clinical studies, the effects of acupuncture have been diverse, and few well-designed randomized controlled trials have been conducted to investigate the long-term effect of acupuncture on acute stroke recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and twenty eight subjects with acute cerebral apoplexy will be recruited. The patients will be randomized into two different groups: the intervention group will receive acupuncture treatment together with Western standard treatment for 2 weeks plus the secondary prevention treatment for 22 weeks; the control group will receive only the Western standard treatment for 2 weeks and the secondary prevention treatment for 22 weeks. The primary outcome measures are Barthel Index and the Stroke-Specific Quality Of Life. The secondary outcome measures are the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Modified Rankin Scale. All assessments will be conducted at the baseline and at weeks 4, 12 and 24 of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study will evaluate the effects of acupuncture on the long-term recovery of acute stroke and on improving the quality of life of the patients. The results of this study will help establish optimal integrated therapeutic strategies for patients with stroke.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN29932220.
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, Beijing 100010, China.
authors.forename: Huilin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dangsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiuge
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Daqing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Guiling
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Guangxia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Linpeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*