Presentation summary

Introduction :
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability. Scalp acupuncture (SA) is widely used to support motor recovery. Synchronizing SA with rehabilitation—known in traditional Chinese medicine as Dynamic Qi Therapy—aims to promote qi flow and enhance neuroplasticity through combined stimulation. This review evaluates the efficacy of this approach compared to rehabilitation alone. To date, no meta-analysis has systematically examined this integrated approach.

Methods :
This study evaluated the effectiveness of synchronized SA and rehabilitation for improving motor recovery after stroke. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library,Medline, CNKI, and Clinical Trials.gov for studies published from January 1, 2014, to May 21, 2025. A total of2,293 records were identified. After exclusions for design, topic, or eligibility, 11 RCTs involving 951 participants were included in the meta-analysis.

Results :
Analysis of the included studies showed that synchronized SA and rehabilitation significantly outperformed rehabilitation alone. For upper-limb motor function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment, FMA-UL), SMD = 0.63 (95% CI0.47–0.79; p < 0.00001; I² = 94.6%). For daily function (Modified Barthel Index, MBI), SMD = 0.89 (95% CI0.74–1.04; p < 0.000001; I² = 91.1%). These represent moderate-to-large gains. Risk of bias was assessedusing the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Most studies were rated low risk in randomization and outcome assessment.

Conclusion
Synchronizing scalp acupuncture with rehabilitation may enhance post-stroke motor and functional recovery.This integrative approach is low-cost, non-invasive, and scalable in clinical settings. While results are promising, more high-quality RCTs in diverse populations are needed.

Informed Consent : All included studies obtained prior informed consent. No identifiable patient data were used.

Funding : No external funding received.