Shen 2012a.

Methods	RCT, computer software used to allocate participants stratified according to hospital C: not stated Blinding: not stated ITT analysis: not stated Losses to FU: none
Participants	Country: China 100 participants (68 men, mean age 59.2 ± 10.6 years in treatment group, mean age 58.9 ± 8.1 years in control group) with acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke Treatment: 50, control: 50 Within 14 days from stroke onset 100% CT/MRI scan before entry Health conditions before stroke: without severe hepatic or renal dysfunction, unconsciousness, mental disease, or dementia Comparability: age, sex, type of stroke, and hemiplegia side similar
Interventions	Treatment group: 3 main acupoints (DU26, PC6, SP6) and 2 auxiliary acupoints (HT1, BL40), manual twirling stimulation, 30 minutes per session, once per day for 2 weeks Control group: no acupuncture Both group: routine drug therapy and rehabilitation therapy
Outcomes	Change in FMA and BI after treatment BI score ≤ 60 at 3 months
Notes	FU: 3 months
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Computer software used to allocate participants stratified according to hospital
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement
Other bias	Unclear risk	Insufficient information to permit judgement