SynthesisFrontiers in neurology2025
Is acupuncture combined with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation more effective in improving upper limb motor dysfunction after stroke? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Frontiers in neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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
3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Comparative efficacy of motor imagery augmented with central non-invasive brain stimulation versus peripheral electrical stimulation for upper extremity rehabilitation post-stroke: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2026Pooled it
- Combined noninvasive brain stimulation and acupuncture for post-stroke motor recovery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurology · 2026Pooled it
- Effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with abdominal acupuncture on lower limb motor function and balance in post-stroke hemiplegia: a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in neurology · 2026Trial
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Upper limb motor dysfunction is a common sequela of stroke, which adversely affects patients' quality of life and ability of daily living. Although acupuncture and repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve this symptom, it is uncertain whether the combined application of the two treatments can enhance the therapeutic effect. Objective: Through systematic review and meta-analysis, this study discusses the improvement effect of acupuncture combined with rTMS on upper limb motor dysfunction after stroke. Methods: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Wanfang Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Service (CBM) for randomized controlled trials of acupuncture combined with rTMS for the treatment of upper limb motor dysfunction after stroke, and performed a screening process according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were screened, extracted, and analyzed using RevMan (version 5.4) software for Meta-analysis. Results: A total of 21 papers involving 1,550 patients were included. The results of the Meta-analysis showed that the combination therapy was superior to acupuncture alone and rTMS alone in improving FMA-UE (acupuncture: MD = 7.55, 95%CI: 4.18 ~ 10.92, I Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with rTMS is more effective than acupuncture or rTMS intervention alone in improving upper extremity motor function and daily living ability and improving neurological damage after stroke.
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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.