Zhou 2014.

Methods	RCT Method of randomisation: closed envelopes Blinding: Investigators but not participants blinded Adverse effects: 20 ITT analysis: not stated Losses to FU: none
Participants	Country: China Number of participants included: 147 (75/72) Demographics: aged 35‐80 years, 54% male Type of stroke: ischaemic only Diagnosis: WHO definition and all confirmed by CT/MRI Severity on entry: not stated Time from stroke onset: 1‐3 months Setting: inpatient Comparability: no significant difference in age or time post onset
Interventions	Comparison: acupuncture + daily PT versus daily PT Acupuncture treatment Acupuncture rationale: not stated Needling details Points used: both body and scalp acupoints Numbers of points used: 8 scalp acupoints and 9 body acupoints Depths of insertion: 1.18‐1.38 inches Deqi elicited: not stated Needle stimulation: manual and electrical Needle retention time: 6‐8 hours/30 minutes Needle type: hua tuo brand, length 1.57 inches Treatment regimen Number of treatment sessions: 40 sessions Frequency of treatment: 5 sessions/week Total course: 8 weeks Practitioner background: not stated Co‐intervention: PT Control interventions: PT
Outcomes	Improvement of depression (HAMD) Improvement of neurological function (NIHSS) Improvement of independence (Barthel Index) Improvement of motor function (Fugl‐Meyer scale) Adverse event: bleeding, haematoma, and pain
Notes	‐
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Randomisation by using closed envelopes
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Randomisation by using closed envelopes
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Investigators blinded
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Details not given
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Outcome assessors blinded
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Treatment: no participants lost to follow‐up Control: 3 participants lost to follow‐up
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	Some patient‐related outcomes were not reported, such as information on quality of life or all‐cause mortality
Other bias	Unclear risk	No information provided