Hopwood 2008.

Methods	RCT, computer‐generated random number list stratified with BI C: sequentially numbered, sealed, opaque envelopes Blinding: outcome assessors ITT analysis: yes Numbers of withdrawals: 10 in acupuncture group, 3 in control group Numbers of losses to FU: 2 in acupuncture group, 4 in control group
Participants	Country: UK 92 participants (42.8% male, age not reported) with acute ischemic stroke completed treatment. Treatment: 47, control: 45 Between 4 and 10 days from stroke onset 50% CT scan before entry Health conditions before stroke: without previous stroke or TIA, serious comorbidity, cardiac pacemaker Comparability: age, SSS score, and BI similar
Interventions	Treatment group: 10 acupoints on paralyzed side, manual (GB20, GB31, GB43, etc.) or electrical stimulation (LI10, SJ5, GB34), 30 minutes/session, 3 times per week for 4 weeks Control group: placebo acupuncture (deactivated TENS) Both groups: drug therapy, routine physiotherapy, and occupational therapy
Outcomes	BI, Motricity Index, NHP at entry, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 52 weeks Place of residence at 24 and 52 weeks Adverse events
Notes	FU: 1 year
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Computer‐generated random number list stratified with BI
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Sequentially numbered, sealed, opaque envelopes
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	High risk	Participants not blinded to treatment
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Blinding of outcome assessors
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	13 in acupuncture group and 12 in control group lost to follow‐up
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement
Other bias	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement