24908241
BACKGROUND	Acupuncture has been widely used as a treatment for stroke in China for more than 3,000 years .
BACKGROUND	However , previous research has not yet shown that acupuncture is effective as a stroke treatment .
BACKGROUND	We report a protocol for a multicenter , randomized , controlled , and outcome assessor-blind trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture on acute ischemic stroke .
METHODS	In a prospective trial involving three hospitals in the Zhejiang Province ( China ) 250 patients with a recent ( less than 1 week previous ) episode of ischemic stroke will be included .
METHODS	Patients will be randomized into two groups : an acupuncture group given scalp acupuncture and electroacupuncture , and a control group given no acupuncture .
METHODS	Eighteen treatment sessions will be performed over a three-week period .
METHODS	The primary outcome will be measured by changes in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at the one , three , and four-week follow-up .
METHODS	Secondary outcome measures will be : 1 ) the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale for motor function ; 2 ) the mini-mental state examination and Montreal cognitive assessment for cognitive function ; 3 ) the video-fluoroscopic swallowing study for swallowing ability ; and 4 ) the incidence of adverse events .
CONCLUSIONS	This trial is expected to clarify whether or not acupuncture is effective for acute stroke .
CONCLUSIONS	It will also show if acupuncture can improve motor , cognitive , or swallowing function .
BACKGROUND	Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-TRC-12001971 .

