Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Studies were included if they examined the clinical effects of acupuncture in stroke patients, and if they included a control group.
Specific interventions included in the review
Acupuncture. The various methods of acupuncture were described as: Chinese acupuncture; acupuncture at classical or temporal points; or needling point Shengen.
Participants included in the review
Human stroke patients, either acute, subacute, cerebral infarction, or undefined stroke patients.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The 'clinical effect' of acupuncture was assessed. The actual outcomes measured appear to vary from study to study, although limited details were provided. Those outcome measures that were documented in the review included measures of motor and cognitive function, such as the Barthel Index and posture control.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the authors performed the selection.