The study will help to develop ap treatment patterns for stroke rehabilitation of elderly patients in Hong Kong. The specific aims of this study are to assess the feasibility of pragmatic clinical trial on acupuncture in primary care setting and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation on motor, sensation, speech, swallowing, cognitive, and other neurological functions.~This study includs 2-week run-in, 24-week treatment, 12-week follow up and 9 visits at week 0, 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 and 38. The investigator will recruit totally 500 patients fulfiling the eligibility criteria in four neighbourhood elderly centres of The Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council and Chinese medicine clinics of Hong Kong Baptist University. Acupuncture treatment will be applied to the patients and seven visits will be arranged within the 24-wk treatment period providing medical consultation and recording improvement and any adverse effect.
Stroke and its sequelae are a major indication for acupuncture. The specific aims of this study are to assess the feasibility of pragmatic clinical trial on acupuncture in primary care setting and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation in Hong Kong.