Electroacupuncture and rTMS for Post-Stroke Motor Recovery
Efficacy and Safety of Electroacupuncture Combined With rTMS on Motor Function Recovery After Stroke: A Multi-center Randomized Controlled Clinical Study
Jing Tao
180 participants
Aug 27, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This study aims to evaluate the combined efficacy of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and Electroacupuncture (EA) in improving motor function recovery post-stroke, compared to rTMS combined with sham EA. Participants will receive either active EA or sham EA alongside standard rTMS treatment. Outcomes will be assessed using standardized clinical scales and neuroimaging techniques to explore underlying neuroplasticity mechanisms.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria7
- Diagnosed with stroke confirmed by neuroimaging (CT/MRI).
- First-ever stroke, unilateral hemispheric lesion, related to motor dysfunction.
- Age between 40 and 75 years.
- Duration from stroke onset between 2 weeks and 6 months.
- Brunnstrom stage II-IV.
- Right-handed.
- Able to understand instructions and voluntarily provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria9
- History of epilepsy or familial epilepsy.
- Motor dysfunction due to non-vascular causes (e.g., tumor, trauma).
- Severe aphasia or cognitive impairment (MoCA < 18).
- Severe systemic complications (e.g., severe organ dysfunction, deep vein thrombosis).
- Presence of metallic implants or contraindications for MRI.
- Severe anxiety (HAMA > 7) or depression (HAMD > 8).
- Severe spasticity (modified Ashworth ≥ 2).
- Fear or intolerance of TMS or electroacupuncture.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or concurrent participation in other clinical trials affecting outcomes.
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Interventions
Participants will receive electroacupuncture once daily for 2 consecutive weeks (total 10 sessions). Disposable sterile needles will be inserted at standardized acupoints to achieve de qi, then connected to an electroacupuncture device for 30 minutes per session.
Participants will receive sham electroacupuncture once daily for 2 consecutive weeks (total 10 sessions). Disposable blunt needles will be placed at the same acupoints without skin penetration or electrical stimulation, with the electroacupuncture device turned on but delivering no current, for 30 minutes per session.
Participants will receive high-frequency rTMS to the ipsilesional M1 area once daily for 2 consecutive weeks (total 10 sessions). Stimulation will be delivered with a MagPro R30 stimulator at 10 Hz, 1600 pulses per session, 4-second trains with 41-second inter-train intervals.
Locations(3)
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NCT07113990