Recovering from a stroke can be a long and difficult journey. Many survivors face months or even years of rehabilitation as they work to regain movement, balance, and independence.
One of the biggest challenges is weakness or paralysis affecting one side of the body, a problem that occurs when stroke damages parts of the brain responsible for controlling movement.
Researchers have been searching for treatments that can improve recovery and help patients regain function more quickly. A new study suggests that acupuncture may be one such option, and scientists now believe they may have identified some of the brain changes that explain its effects.
The research was published in the journal CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics.
A stroke occurs when the brain’s blood supply is interrupted. Brain cells depend on a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood, and even a brief interruption can cause damage. Depending on which area of the brain is affected, patients may experience problems with movement, speech, memory, vision, or thinking.
Motor problems are among the most common consequences. Many stroke survivors develop weakness, poor coordination, or paralysis on one side of the body. Rehabilitation therapy helps the brain and body adapt, but recovery varies greatly from person to person.
Acupuncture has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and is increasingly being studied using modern scientific methods.
Some previous studies have suggested that acupuncture may help reduce pain, improve circulation, and support recovery from neurological conditions. However, questions have remained about whether its benefits are genuine and how it might affect the brain.
To investigate, researchers recruited 56 patients recovering from stroke. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either real acupuncture or sham acupuncture. The sham treatment was designed to mimic the experience of acupuncture without targeting traditional treatment points.
Both groups underwent treatment for two weeks. Researchers then evaluated motor recovery using standardized assessments that measured how well patients could move and control their affected limbs.
The findings showed a clear difference between the groups. Patients who received real acupuncture demonstrated significant improvements in motor function, while those receiving sham treatment showed far less change.
The team also used advanced brain imaging to examine structural changes in the brain. They discovered that the real acupuncture group experienced increases in gray matter volume in several brain regions associated with movement control and sensory processing.
Gray matter is an important component of the nervous system. It contains nerve cells that process information and coordinate communication throughout the brain. Increases in gray matter volume are often considered signs of positive brain adaptation or recovery.
The regions showing the strongest changes included the inferior frontal gyrus, the postcentral gyrus, and parts of the cerebellum. These areas play important roles in planning movement, processing sensory information, controlling coordination, and integrating cognitive and motor functions.
Researchers found that patients with larger increases in gray matter tended to achieve better motor recovery. This relationship suggests that acupuncture may influence the brain’s ability to reorganize and repair itself following injury.
Scientists often refer to this ability as neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity allows healthy parts of the brain to adapt and compensate for damaged areas. Encouraging this process is a major goal of stroke rehabilitation because it can improve recovery outcomes.
The study’s authors suggest that acupuncture may enhance motor initiation, execution, control, and coordination through its effects on these brain regions. If confirmed by future research, this could help explain why some patients experience meaningful improvements after treatment.
If you care about stroke, please read studies about how to eat to prevent stroke, and diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
Source: CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics study.
