• Synchronized scalp acupuncture (SA) improves activities of daily living post-stroke. • Motor function is significantly enhanced through synchronized SA and rehabilitation. • Early synchronized SA intervention leads to superior recovery. • Interventions of 4–8 weeks show the greatest functional improvement. • SA synchronized with rehabilitation optimizes standard post-stroke recovery. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of synchronized scalp acupuncture combined with rehabilitation in improving activities of daily living (ADLs) and motor function among post-stroke patients. A systematic literature search of multiple databases through December 2025 identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing synchronized scalp acupuncture (SA) combined with rehabilitation versus rehabilitation alone in patients with stroke. The primary outcome was ADLs, which was assessed using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). The secondary outcome was motor function, which was measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA). Effect sizes were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. A total of 26 RCTs involving 2,056 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Synchronized SA combined with rehabilitation yielded significantly greater improvements in ADLs (MBI, Hedges’ g = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95 to 1.47, p < 0.001) and motor function (FMA, Hedges’ g = 1.53, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.02, p < 0.001) than rehabilitation alone. Subgroup analyses suggested that these benefits were more pronounced in patients treated during the acute phase (<7 days post-stroke; Hedges’ g = 1.91, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.45, p < 0.001) and those who received interventions for 4–8 weeks (Hedges’ g = 1.47, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.88, p < 0.001). No significant publication bias was observed, and the sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. The findings suggest that combining synchronized SA with rehabilitation can effectively enhance post-stroke recovery of ADL and motor function. These results highlight the potential value of incorporating synchronized SA into standard stroke rehabilitation programs to improve the functional outcomes. INPLASY202590028
Chang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.