The Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Post‑Stroke Spasticity in Adults: An Integrative Review
Description
Introduction: Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Spasticity affects 20% to 40% of survivors, resulting in functional dependence and biopsychosocial impacts. Effective management is challenging, and acupuncture is emerging as an expanding therapeutic alternative. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in treating post-stroke spasticity in adults. Methods: This integrative review involved a wide search of main databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science), retrieving 1.003 articles, of which 13 were included. The review focused on adults with post-stroke spasticity receiving manual acupuncture, scalp acupuncture, and electroacupuncture; excluding studies involving pediatric patients, spasticity resulting from conditions other than stroke, or interventions unrelated to acupuncture. Article screening was conducted in Rayyan by two blinded researchers, who independently assessed titles and abstracts according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After unblinding, discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Data was then systematically extracted using a standardized protocol. Finally, all information was compiled to this present study. Results: Most meta-analyses evaluating the efficacy of acupuncture using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) demonstrated significant positive effects in reducing muscle tone. Similarly, assessments using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and the Barthel Index (BI/MBI) yielded significant results favoring the use of acupuncture. Furthermore, according to a 2026 network meta-analysis, the combination of scalp acupuncture and body acupuncture had the highest probability of being the best intervention for reducing MAS (SUCRA = 81.53%) and associated pain (VAS SUCRA = 69.24%). Conclusion: Acupuncture appears to be effective in reducing spasticity, especially when combined with rehabilitation. Larger, multicenter randomized clinical trials following STRICTA and CONSORT guidelines are recommended for greater statistical precision. Keywords: “Acupuncture Therapy”; “Adult”; "Muscle Spasticity"