On the Question of the Reflexotherapy Action Mechanisms in the Ischemic Stroke Acute Period (Literature Review)

Abstract

A high degree of disability in stroke patients, along with severe social and economic losses, determine the enduring urgency of the problem of early rehabilitation for post-stroke patients. Despite the proven effectiveness of the various reflexotherapy techniques in rehabilitation of patients with ischemic stroke, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of the review was to analyze the mechanisms of the acupuncture intervention effect on the main links of the ischemic stroke pathogenesis, on neurological deficit and the volume of cerebral infarction (based on publications in international databases). The use of acupuncture in the acute period of ischemic stroke can improve the ability to cerebrovascular reserve, reduce the severity of arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction, induce neuroprotection, inhibit cell apoptosis and stimulate neuroplasticity, alleviate the inflammatory response in acute cerebral ischemia, regulate mediators of inflammation and oxidative stress etc., thus improving cerebral blood flow. The analysis of literature data has shown that acupuncture induces multilevel regulation through complex mechanisms, and one factor may not be enough to explain the positive effect against cerebral ischemia.