Liu 2016.

Methods	RCT, randomized via an online random number generator C: generated code sealed in an envelope Blinding: blinding of evaluator ITT analysis: not stated Numbers with incomplete outcome data: 2 in the acupuncture group, 5 in the control group
Participants	Country: Taiwan, Republic of China 38 participants (24 men, aged 40 to 85 years) with acute ischemic stroke Treatment: 18, control: 20 Within 3 days from stroke onset All had CT scan before entry. Health conditions before stroke: without a history of stroke or hemorrhage after ischemic stroke, cerebellar infarction, seizures, serious medical disease, cancer, or bleeding tendency; for women, this study excluded those who were pregnant or breastfeeding Comparability: age, sex, medical history, body mass index, drinking or smoking habits similar
Interventions	Treatment group: 3 arm points, 3 leg points, 7 scalp points (LI11, TE5, LI4, ST36, SP6, LR3, etc.), manual twirling stimulation, 15 to 20 minutes/session, once a day for 2 weeks Control group: no acupuncture Both groups: routine standard treatment for ischemic stroke including thrombolytic therapy, antiplatelet treatment, anticoagulant therapy, and symptomatic treatment allowed at discretion
Outcomes	Changes in FMA and FIM at 4 weeks, as well as changes in NIHSS score, daily quality of life, and independence at 12 weeks
Notes	FU: 12 weeks
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Participants randomized via an online random number generator
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Generated code sealed in an envelope
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Blinding of assessors
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	High risk	7 of 38 participants did not complete the study.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement
Other bias	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement