Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25643051›Full record

Trial reportPloS one2015

Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation to treat muscle spasticity following brain injury: a double-blinded, multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Wenli Zhao, Chao Wang, Zhongzheng Li, Lei Chen, Jianbo Li, Weidong Cui, Shasha Ding, Qiang Xi, Fan Wang, Fei Jia and 3 more

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract readMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06999876 (The Effect of Combined Transcranial Pulse Current Stimulation), which is not on this map. Cited by 17 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06999876 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

The Effect of Combined Transcranial Pulse Current Stimulation (tPCS) and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on Lower Limb Motor Function in Subacute to Chronic Stroke Patients With Hemiplegia: A Double-blind, Sham-controlled, Randomized Controlled Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorNational University Health System, SingaporeRan2025 to 2026Enrolled90ConditionsStroke Patients With Hemiplegia or Hemiparesis in the Subacute StageArmsThe AscenZ-VIII Stimulator (Investigational Medical Device)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 38 citations in OpenAlex.

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  16. Neural regeneration research · 2018
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Wenli ZhaoDepartment of Neurology, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, 300100, China.
Chao WangDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Zhongzheng LiDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Lei ChenDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin Ninghe Hospital, Tianjin, 301500, China.
Jianbo LiDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin Ninghe Hospital, Tianjin, 301500, China.
Weidong CuiDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin Ninghe Hospital, Tianjin, 301500, China.
Shasha DingDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Qiang XiDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Fan WangDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Fei JiaDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Shuhua XiaoDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Yi GuoDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.
Ye ZhaoDepartment of Clinical Research, Tianjin Nankai Hospital and Tianjin Academy of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin, 300100, China.
Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine · CNTianjin Nankai Hospital · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study was aimed at evaluating the clinical efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) to treat muscle spasticity after brain injury (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-11001310).

methodsA total of 60 patients with muscle spasticity after brain injury were randomized to the following 3 groups: 100, 2, and 0 Hz (sham) TEAS. The acupoints Hegu (LI4)--Yuji (LU10) and Zusanli (ST36)--Chengshan (BL57) on the injured side were stimulated at 0, 2, or 100 Hz, 5 times per week for 4 weeks. The patients were followed up for 1 and 2 months after the treatments. The effects of the treatments on muscle spasticity at the wrist, thumb, the other 4 fingers, elbow, shoulder, knee, and ankle were evaluated by the Modified Ashworth Scale, and the effects on disability were assessed by the Disability Assessment Scale. The walking capability was evaluated by the Holden functional ambulation classification score. The overall performance was assessed by the Global Assessment Scale score and the improved Barthel Index. The safety of the treatments administered was also monitored.

resultsThe wrist spasticity was significantly reduced from baseline at weeks 2, 3, and 4 of treatment and at the 1- and 2-month follow-up visits in the 100 Hz group (P < 0.01). Compared with 2 Hz or sham TEAS, 100 Hz TEAS decreased wrist spasticity at weeks 2, 3, and 4 of treatment and 1 month after treatment (P < 0.001). The other endpoints were not affected by the treatments. No treatment-emergent adverse events were reported during treatments and follow-up visits.

conclusionsTEAS appears to be a safe and effective therapy to relieve muscle spasticity after brain injury, although large-scale studies are required to further verify the findings.

trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-TRC-11001310 http://www.chictr.org.

Indexed as

Acupuncture PointsSafetyAdolescentAdultBrain InjuriesDouble-Blind MethodEndpoint DeterminationFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMuscle SpasticityTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationTreatment OutcomeWristYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID25643051
PMCPMC4314074
OpenAlexW2066404455

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.