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Stroke frequently causes lasting upper limb impairment, and understanding the neural mechanisms behind motor recovery remains an active area of research. One pathway of particular interest is the corticoreticulospinal tract, which may compensate when the primary motor pathway is damaged. Electroacupuncture has been explored as a rehabilitation aid, yet its influence on corticoreticulospinal tract processes had not been well characterised.
In this small randomised trial, 32 subacute stroke patients were allocated to either electroacupuncture plus standard rehabilitation or rehabilitation alone over two weeks. The electroacupuncture group received stimulation at the Hegu (Large Intestine 4) and Quchi (Large Intestine 11) acupoints before each physical therapy session. Researchers assessed upper limb motor function using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the upper extremity, measured muscle spasticity, and used surface electromyography alongside functional near-infrared spectroscopy to capture motor performance and brain activity changes.
Participants receiving electroacupuncture showed greater improvements in Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores and faster premotor reaction times than the comparison group. There was also increased StartReact incidence and altered anticipatory muscle activation patterns, suggesting corticoreticulospinal tract involvement. The functional near-infrared spectroscopy data indicated enhanced activity in the contralateral sensorimotor network early in the intervention, with those showing more severe impairment demonstrating greater connectivity improvements in the unaffected hemisphere. The authors note that the small sample size and absence of a sham electroacupuncture comparison group limit definitive conclusions.
Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests electroacupuncture may usefully augment upper limb motor rehabilitation after subacute stroke, possibly by modulating the corticoreticulospinal tract, but larger sham-controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Source: Xia N, Wu Q, Yang T and colleagues. Brain and Behavior (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 42157563) · doi:10.1002/brb3.71496