Acupuncture of no value in review of Randomized Clinical Stroke Rehabilitation Trials in

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Hi All,

 

See this:

 

Rabadi MH. Randomized Clinical Stroke Rehabilitation Trials in 2005.

Neurochem Res. 2006 Dec 27; [Epub ahead of print] Burke Rehabilitation

Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 785 Mamaroneck

Ave., White Plains, NY, 10605, USA, mrabadi This article

reviews randomized control trials (RCTs) undertaken in stroke rehab in the

year 2005. A Medline search generated 31 RCTs in stroke rehabilitation in

the year 2005 in the English language. These trials were primarily efficacy

studies of a number of treatments: medications such as folate, vitamin B12

and bisphosphonates in preventing osteoporotic related hip fractures,

compression stockings in preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), use of

mechanical robots and positioning of the upper limb to help improve

function; and, transcranial magnetic coil stimulation, acupuncture and

neural tissue transplant to enhance motor recovery in post-stroke patients.

PMID: 17191132 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

I wrote to Dr. Meheroz H Rabadi, author of the review:

> Hi Dr Rabadi, What were the conclusions from your review?

 

Dr. Rabadi's conclusions, emailed to me today, were as follows: " The

following recommendations can be drawn from these randomized control

trials (Level 1 evidence) are: 1. rTMS technique is increasingly being

explored as a treatment modality to help motor recovery. 2. Acupuncture

has no role in facilitating motor recovery post-stroke at this time. 3. Robot

arm treatment is currently being used in selected centers (including ours) in

chronic stroke patients to help decrease motor impairment and help

improve function. 4. Positioning of the shoulder and the arm is a simple and

an inexpensive way of preventing contractures, decreasing shoulder

subluxation and pain which in turn improves range of motion and decreases

disability. We regularly prescribe lap-tray to help position patient. Regards,

Dr. Meheroz H Rabadi, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, Tel:914-597-2362,

Fax:914-597-2774, E-mail: mrabadi "

 

Many thanks to Dr. Rabadi for a rapid response.

 

Note point 2, above: " Acupuncture has no role in facilitating motor recovery

post-stroke at this time " .

 

This surprises me greatly because I know of some post-stroke cases that

acupuncture helped to a lesser or greater extent.

 

Best regards,