Effect of “Deqi” during the Study of Needling “Wang’s Jiaji” Acupoints Treating Spasticity after Stroke

This does make the assumption that acupuncture actually does something. Trial was not double-blind.
I however, don't believe  because of this;

Neuro-Acupuncture and Stroke

and this:

Acupuncture is a theatrical placebo: the end of a myth - DC's Improbable Science

 

It's up to you and your doctor how you want to handle this.

Effect of “Deqi” during the Study of Needling “Wang’s Jiaji” Acupoints Treating Spasticity after Stroke

Huanqin Li,1 Huilin Liu,1 Cunzhi Liu,1 Guangxia Shi,1 Wei Zhou,2 Chengmei Zhao,3 Tao Zhang,1 Xuefei Wang,1 Guiling Wang,1 Yin Zhao,1 Jingqing Sun,1 Jing Wang,1 and Linpeng Wang1

1Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
2Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Huguosi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 83 Mianhua Alleyway, Huguosi Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100035, China
3Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Fangshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 151 Chengguan South Street, Fangshan District, Beijing 102400, China

Received 10 April 2014; Revised 1 September 2014; Accepted 6 September 2014; Published 12 November 2014

Academic Editor: David Mischoulon

Copyright © 2014 Huanqin Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract

Background. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce spasticity and prevent the onset of spasticity after stroke. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of “Deqi” during needling “Wang’s Jiaji” acupoints treating spasticity in the early stage of stroke. Methods. This study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial. 238 patients with stroke (<21 days) participated and were randomly allocated to the verum-acupuncture () group or sham-acupuncture group (). The verum-acupuncture group received verum acupuncture required to produce the sense of “Deqi” while the sham-acupuncture group received sham acupuncture without “Deqi.” Patients in both groups followed the same 30 min acupuncture regimen 5 times per week for a period of 4 weeks. Scales of MAS, FMA, ADL, MBI, NIHSS, SS-QOL, and MRS were measured at baseline and at 2, 4, and 12 weeks after intervention. Results. Significant differences were observed between two groups. The MRS rating composition has the statistical difference after 4 weeks (). The score of MAS, FMA, Barthel, and SSQOL in verum-acupuncture group has increased significantly compared with the sham-acupuncture group after 12 weeks. There was 14% reduction of higher muscle tension in the verum-acupuncture group. Conclusion. Acupuncture “Wang’s Jiaji” points with sensation of “Deqi” in the early stage may reduce the occurrence and decrease the severity of spasticity after stroke.