title: Comprehensive rehabilitation with integrative medicine for subacute stroke: A multicenter randomized controlled trial.
abstract: To determine whether integrative medicine rehabilitation (IMR) that combines conventional rehabilitation (CR) with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine has better effects for subacute stroke than CR alone, we conducted a multicenter randomized controlled trial that involved three hospitals in China. Three hundred sixty patients with subacute stroke were randomized into IMR and CR groups. The primary outcome was the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). The secondary outcomes were the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hamilton's Depression Scale (HAMD), and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). All variables were evaluated at week 0 (baseline), week 4 (half-way of intervention), week 8 (after treatment) and week 20 (follow-up). In comparison with the CR group, the IMR group had significantly better improvements (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in all the primary and secondary outcomes. There were also significantly better changes from baseline in theses outcomes in the IMR group than in the CR group (P < 0.01). A low incidence of adverse events with mild symptoms was observed in the IMR group. We conclude that conventional rehabilitation combined with integrative medicine is safe and more effective for subacute stroke rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 219 Moganshan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province 310005, China.|Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 548 Binwen Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province 310053, China.
authors.forename: Jianqiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 219 Moganshan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province 310005, China.
authors.forename: Lifang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 219 Moganshan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province 310005, China.
authors.forename: Ruijie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 548 Binwen Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province 310053, China.
authors.forename: Crystal Lynn
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Keeler
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture &Encephalopathy, Jiaxing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1501 Zhong shan East Road, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province 310012, China.
authors.forename: Laihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture &Rehabilitation, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 453 Tiyuchang Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province 310007, China.
authors.forename: Yehua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 219 Moganshan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province 310005, China.
authors.forename: Shouyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome