Key Finding
This study protocol describes the first randomized controlled trial comparing acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and betahistine medication for post-stroke vascular vertigo, with results pending.
Researchers are studying whether acupuncture can help people who experience dizziness and vertigo after having a stroke. Vascular vertigo is a common problem following stroke that significantly affects quality of life and makes recovery more difficult. Current medications have limited long-term effectiveness and can cause side effects, so researchers want to explore whether acupuncture might offer a better treatment option.
This study will involve 234 stroke patients with vertigo at four medical centers in China. Participants will be randomly divided into three groups: one receiving real acupuncture at specific points including the top of the head (Baihui), back of the neck (Fengchi), behind the ears (Wangu), and on the feet (Taichong); one receiving fake acupuncture at non-therapeutic points; and one taking standard medication (betahistine). All treatments will last three weeks, with follow-up continuing for 20 weeks.
Researchers will measure improvements using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and other assessments of daily functioning and quality of life. They'll also use advanced brain imaging (MRI) and blood flow studies to understand how acupuncture works in the brain and blood vessels. This is important because understanding the mechanisms could help refine treatment approaches.
This study protocol describes the planned research but hasn't yet reported results. If successful, it could provide strong evidence for using acupuncture to treat post-stroke vertigo. The study design is rigorous, comparing acupuncture against both fake acupuncture and standard medication, which will help determine whether acupuncture truly works and how it compares to current treatments. If you're considering acupuncture for vertigo or any condition, consult a licensed acupuncturist with experience treating neurological conditions.
This multicenter, double-blind RCT will evaluate acupuncture efficacy and central mechanisms for post-stroke vascular vertigo (PSVV). The study plans to enroll 234 patients randomized 1:1:1 to acupuncture (GV20, GB20, GB12, LR3), sham acupuncture (superficial needling at non-acupoints with blunt needle), or active control (betahistine mesilate) groups. The intervention period is 3 weeks with follow-up at 8 and 20 weeks post-treatment.
Primary outcome is the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Secondary outcomes include DARS, dizziness diaries, SF-36, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, and multimodal MRI to investigate neurological mechanisms. This represents the first trial comparing acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and Western medication for PSVV.
Clinical takeaway: This protocol addresses an important gap in managing post-stroke vertigo, a condition with limited pharmaceutical options. The inclusion of neuroimaging may elucidate acupuncture's central mechanisms. Results could provide high-quality evidence for acupuncture in stroke rehabilitation, though outcomes are pending (study protocol only).
Browse our directory of verified licensed practitioners near you.
Find a practitioner →📌 Dysregulation of m7G RNA modifications, catalyzed by three major methyltransferase complexes in the CNS, is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease, ALS, epilepsy, glioblastoma, and ischemic stroke.
📌 Acupuncture significantly reduced thyroid antibodies (TPOAb and TGAb) and TSH levels in Hashimoto thyroiditis patients, though methodological limitations prevent reliable clinical recommendations pending higher-quality research.
📌 Liproxstatin-1 significantly reduced cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting ferroptosis through increasing neuroprotective factors GPX4 and FTH1 while decreasing ferroptosis markers NOX1, ACSL4, COX2, and TFR1.