Effect of opposing needling on motor cortex excitability in healthy participants and in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia: study protocol for a single-blind, randomised controlled trial

Abstract Background Opposing needling has an obvious curative effect in the treatment of post-stroke hemiplegia; however, mechanism opposing hemiplegia is still not clear. The purpose this study to investigate on excitability primary motor cortex (M1) healthy participants and patients with hemiplegia, which may provide insight into mechanisms treating hemiplegia. Methods This will be a single-blind, randomised, sham-controlled trial 80 40 recruited. Healthy randomised 1:1:1:1 2-Hz, 50-Hz, 100-Hz, sham electroacupuncture groups. Patients 1:1 or conventional M1 located all groups by using neuroimaging-based navigation. stimulator coil transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) moved over left right order identify TMS hotspot, followed recording resting thresholds (RMTs) motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) thenar muscles induced before after intervention. outcome measure percent change RMTs at baseline secondary measures amplitude (μV) latency (ms) MEPs Discussion aim explore Trial registration Chinese Clinical Registry ChiCTR1900028138 . Registered 13 December 2019.