SynthesisJournal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan2022
Efficacy of meridian massage for motor function after a stroke: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Comparison of the effects of different physical stimulation therapies on reducing upper limb spastic paralysis and motor dysfunction in stroke survivors after stroke: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy of botulinum toxin A combined with extracorporeal shockwave therapy in post-stroke spasticity: a systematic review.Frontiers in neurology · 2024Pooled it
- Massage therapy significantly improves cancer-related fatigue in cancer patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023Pooled it
- Efficacy of Daoyin combined with lower limb robot as a comprehensive rehabilitation intervention for stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan · 2024Trial
- An implantable mechano-electro cascade platform synchronizes neuro-muscle repair.Nature communications · 2026Article
- The impact of discharge readiness on post-traumatic growth in patients after thyroid cancer surgery: the mediating role of sickness-related stigma.Frontiers in oncology · 2024Article
- Effectiveness and functional magnetic resonance imaging outcomes of Tuina therapy in patients with post-stroke depression: A randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of meridian massage on motor function after a stroke.
methodsThis systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomised (RCTs) and quasi-randomised controlled trials (qRCTs) was performed to determine the effects of meridian massage on motor dysfunction following a stroke. Articles published until December 2020 related to stroke and meridian massage from National Library of Medicine, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, KoreaMed, Japan science and Technology Agency, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and China Science and Technology Journal Database were searched. The primary outcomes included Fugl-Mayer Assessment (FMA), modified Barthel Index (mBI) and clinical efficiency, while the secondary outcomes included modified Ashworth (mAS) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Two authors independently selected the literature, extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias, after which Meta-analysis with subgroups and sensitivity analysis was conducted.
resultsA total of 16 RCTs and 3 q-RCTs involved 1556 patients satisfied the inclusion. Meta-analysis showed that compared to conventional rehabilitation, meridian massage had significantly better FMA [mean difference () = 1.16, 95% confidence interval (): 0.43, 1.89, = 0.002], FMA-L ( = 3.21, 95% : 1.97, 4.45, = 0.000 01), mBI ( = 8.87, 95% : 4.24, 13.49, = 0.000 02), clinical efficiency [relative risk (RR) = 1.37,95% : 1.24, 1.51, < 0.000 01], mAS ( = -0.69, 95% : -1.26, -0.11, = 0.02) and BBS ( = 5.07, 95% : 2.22, 7.93, = 0.0005). Subgroup analysis indicated no significant difference between meridian massage and control group when the intervention duration was >8 weeks ( = 0.89, 95% : -0.64, 2.42, = 0.25) but improving motor function in the meridian massage when the intervention duration was ≤ 8 weeks (< 4 weeks intervention duration = 0.84, 95% : 0.59, 1.10, < 0.000 01; 4-8 weeks = 2.41, 95% : 0.80, 4.01, = 0.003).
conclusionsMeridian massage as an alternative and complementary therapy seems to have short-term benefits in improving post-stroke motor function (particularly in the lower limbs), quality of life, clinical efficiency, and balance stability and muscle spasms. The high heterogeneity of the included studies and the low methodological quality certainly limits the confidence placed in this systematic review and Meta-analysis, warranting future well-designed studies.
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