Acupuncture for post-stroke spastic hemiplegia: A dual-dimensional evidence synthesis combining bibliometric and meta-analysis

A BSTRACT This study systematically evaluates acupuncture for post-stroke spastic hemiplegia using a dual-dimensional approach: bibliometric analysis and meta-analysis. Databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP) were searched from inception to December 31, 2024. Bibliometric tools (VOSviewer, CiteSpace) were used to analyze research trends, collaborations, and keyword clusters. Meta-analysis was performed using R, RevMan, and Stata. Forty-five RCTs were included. Bibliometric findings show a shift from early research on “acupoint specificity” to recent hotspots including “neural mechanisms” and “multimodal efficacy evaluation.” Meta-analysis shows that acupuncture significantly improves muscle tone (Ashworth: MD = –0.64), upper-limb motor function (FMA: MD = 6.75), lower-limb motor function (FMA: MD = 3.46), and activities of daily living (Barthel index: MD = 10.87). Electroacupuncture shows superior effects, and treatment duration ≥4 weeks is more effective. China leads in research output. Acupuncture, especially electroacupuncture combined with conventional rehabilitation, is effective for post-stroke spastic hemiplegia.