Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41430331›Full record

Trial reportJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2025

Effect of robot-assisted gait training combined with electroacupuncture on lower limb motor function and brain network characteristics in stroke: an EEG study.

Haiping Huang, Xinyi Su, Yuqian Zhang, Zhixi Liu, Kunpeng Xia, Haibo Xu, Beisi Zheng, Xuekang Niu, Shishi Chen, Yujia Zhang and 3 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Haiping Huang *The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Xinyi Su *The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Yuqian ZhangThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Zhixi LiuAibu (Shanghai) Artificial Intelligence Technology Co., LTD., Shanghai, China.
Kunpeng XiaComprehensive Rehabilitation Department, Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center, No.2828 Bingsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Haibo XuComprehensive Rehabilitation Department, Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center, No.2828 Bingsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Beisi ZhengThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Xuekang NiuThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Shishi ChenThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Yujia ZhangThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Manxue ZhouThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Yi ZhongThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Jianer ChenThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. chenje@zcmu.edu.cn.

Funding

China Disabled Persons' Federation science and technology project 2024CDPFAT 41Key Scientific Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province No.2021C03050The Construct Program of the Key Discipline in Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center ZKXK02
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStroke survivors often experience residual motor dysfunction in their limbs. Additional physical rehabilitation therapies may further improve patients' functional outcomes. By combining direct interventions targeting the cerebral cortex or subcortical structures with indirect approaches that promote central nervous system reorganization, a closed-loop regulatory system can be established. This integrated approach may generate synergistic effects, thereby enhancing functional recovery outcomes.

methodsThis 3-week single-center randomized, single-masked study involved participants randomly assigned to either the electroacupuncture (EA) combined with robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) group (n = 22) or the RAGT alone group (n = 23). EA treatment was administered once daily for 30 min, 5 days per week, while RAGT treatment received the same duration of daily sessions. Baseline and endpoint assessments included the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity (FMA-LE) motor function assessment, functional ambulation category (FAC) scale, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and electroencephalogram.

resultsAfter a 3-week intervention period, participants in both groups showed significant improvements in FMA-LE, FAC, and BBS scores compared to baseline levels. The EA combined RAGT group exhibited a reduction in the brain symmetry index within the alpha frequency band, along with enhanced coherence between the CZ electrode and the FCZ, FC2, and C1 electrodes. Furthermore, in the theta frequency band, a shortened average path length and improved global efficiency were observed.

conclusionBoth interventions can safely and effectively improve lower limb motor function, and EA combined with RAGT combination therapy may have an advantage in promoting neuroplasticity, which may involve reversing pathological frequency spectrum imbalance after stroke, enhancing functional connections between sensorimotor-related brain regions, and optimizing the topological properties of brain functional networks. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No.: ChiCTR2500102382).

Indexed as

BrainElectroacupunctureExercise TherapyGaitGait Disorders, NeurologicLower ExtremityNerve NetRoboticsStroke RehabilitationAdultAgedCombined Modality TherapyElectroencephalographyFemaleHumansMaleBrain networkElectroacupunctureElectroencephalogramLower limb motor functionRobot-assisted gait trainingStroke

Identifiers

PMID41430331
PMCPMC12751702

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.