Table 1 The characteristics of the included 70 studies

Cao 2012 [14]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

40(22/18); 57.5 ± 9.8

40(24/16); 57.2 ± 9.5

<3d

electro-scalp-body-Ac

WCTs* (general supportive care, antiplatelet agents, neuroprotective agents, treatment of acute complications)

4w

Chen 2001 [15]

English

infarction

RCT

No

21(14/7); Mean 64.8

16(10/6); Mean 66.1

<3d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs*(specialized care)

4w

Chen 2010 [16]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

40 (27/13); Mean 54.4

38(28/10); Mean 55.4

≤7d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, neuroprotective agents)

4w

Chen C L (Unpublished Master’s thesis, 2008) [17]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

32(20/12); 50–75

32(18/14); 50–75

<6 m

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

Ac + WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, stroke rehabilitation)

4w

Dong 2011 [18]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

75(45/30); Mean 67

75(48/27); Mean 65

<2w

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (, stroke rehabilitation)

10d

Er 2010 [19]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

30(16/14); Mean 54.2

30(18/12); Mean 56.1

1 m–3 m

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation)

6w

Fu 2010 [20]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

80(41/39); Mean 62.8

80(43/37); Mean 63.3

<1 m

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd, treatment of acute complications, stroke rehabilitation)

4w

Gao 2012 [21]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

82(45/37); Mean 62.4

78(42/36); Mean 62.7

3–74d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd,)

4w

Gong 2008 [22]

Chinese

infarction; ICH

RCT

No

32 (15/17); Mean 52

31(16/15); Mean 51.4

Mean 36–38d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs*(stroke rehabilitation)

6w

Gosman-Hedstrom 1998 [23]

English

infarction

RCT

No

37(20/17); Mean 76.1

33(9/24); Mean 76.9

<7d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs*(stroke rehabilitation)

4w

Gosman-Hedstrom 1998 [23]

English

infarction

RCT

No

37(20/17); Mean 76.1

34(17/17); Mean 79

<7d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

Sham Ac + WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation)

10w

Guo 2009 [24]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

30(17/13); Mean 56.3

30(21/9); Mean 55.6

<7d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.3 g po qd, a week later recuced to 0.1 g po qd, stroke rehabilitation)

14d

Hopwood 2008 [25]

English

Infarction; ICH

RCT

No

57(19/38); Mean 70.5

48(26/22); Mean 74.4

4–10d

electro-scalp-body-Ac

Sham Ac

4w

Hsing 2012 [26]

English

infarction

RCT

No

35; Mean 50

27; Mean 52

>18 m

electro-scalp-Ac

Sham Ac

5w

Hsieh 2007 [27]

English

infarction

RCT

No

30(12/18); Mean 68.8

33(20/13); Mean 70.7

<2w

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation)

4w

Hu 1993 [28]

English

infarction

RCT

No

15(15/0); 63.6 ± 6.7

15(13/2); 62.8 ± 8.0

<36 h

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, stroke rehabilitation)

4w

Huang 2008 [29]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

40(21/19); Mean 63.6

40(20/20); Mean 59.9

14–90d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* + ENS

4w

Huang 2011 [30]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

35(22/13); Mean 63.2

35(19/16); Mean 65.3

Mean 7.3–8.1d

electro-scalp-body-Ac

Ac

6w

Huang 2012 [31]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

32(12/20) 66.59 ± 10.482;

26(16/10) 68.92 ± 10.53

<6d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care)

4w

Jahansson 1993 [32]

English

infarction

RCT

No

38; Mean 76

40; Mean 75

<10d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation)

10w

Jahansson 2001 [33]

English

infarction

RCT

Yes

48(29/19); Mean 76

51(25/26); Mean 76

<10d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

sham Ac + WCTs* (antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, stroke rehabilitation)

10w

Jin 1999 [34]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

60; Mean 68

60; Mean 68

<1 m

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (specialized care)

6w

Jiu 2008 [35]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

40(23/17); Mean 62.7

40(22/18); Mean 63

<2w

Electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation)

2 m

Lei2013 [36]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

40(19/21); 48-61

40(25/15); 43–64

4–31 m

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, stroke rehabilitation)

4w

Li 2006 [37]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

52(34/18); 66.8 ± 4.7

50(35/15); 67.1 ± 3.9

<1 m

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care)

3w

Li 2011 [38]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

30(14/16) Mean 54.4

30(13/17) Mean 55.4

<1 m

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (treatment of acute complications, stroke rehabilitation)

4w

Li X Z (unpublished Master’s thesis, 2005) [39]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

35(18/17); Mean 61.5

35(20/15); Mean 59.7

<3d

electro-scalp-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, anticoagulantslow molecular heparin, treatment of acute complications)

10d

Liu 2007 [40]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

38(25/13); Mean 59.4

37(14/23); Mean 56.4

<2w

Electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (specialized care, stroke rehabilitation)

3w

Liu 2010 [41]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

50(32/18); Mean 61

50(35/15); Mean 63

2d–6 m

electro-scalp-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation)

1 m

Long 2004 [42]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

43(30/13); Mean 60

41(27/14); Mean 62

<7d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs*

7w

Luo 2012 [43]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

10(5/5); Mean 60.5

9(5/4); Mean 62.3

2w–1 m

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation)

6w

Lv 2003 [44]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

29; 52–79

26; 52–79

<5d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, volume expansion and vasodilators, neuroprotective agents, treatment of acute complications)

1 m

Naeser 1992 [45]

English

infarction

RCT

No

10

6

1–3 m

electro-scalp-body-Ac

Sham Ac

4w

Pei2001 [46]

English

infarction

RCT

No

43(28/15); Mean 71.6

43(24/19); Mean 69.3

<7d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs*

4w

Peng 2007 [47]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

40; Mean 54

40; Mean 54

≤7d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, stroke rehabilitation)

12w

Peng 2009 [48]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

30; 18–70

30; 18–70

Mean 2–3 m

electro-scalp-body-Ac

Ac

45d

Qi 2012 [49]

Chinese

Cerebral vascular disease

RCT

No

39(20/19); 60.12 ± 6.34

39(19/20); 60.23 ± 6.45

<12 m

electro–du-meridian-Ac

manual-body-Ac

20d

Sallstrom 1996 [50]

English

infarction ICH

RCT

No

26; Median 57

23; Median 58

15–71d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation)

6w

Sang 2011 [51]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

40; 38–75

40; 38–75

<7d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (neuroprotective agents cerebrolysin vial 30 ml ivgtt qd, treatment of acute complications)

14d

Schaechter2007 [52]

English

infarction

RCT

No

4(3/1); 28–80

4

1–10.2y

electro-scalp-body-Ac

Sham Ac

10w

Schuler 2005 [53]

English

infarction

RCT

No

41; Mean 77.5

40; Mean 78.7

3–35d

scalp-body-Ac

Sham Ac

4w

Si 1998 [54]

English

infarction

RCT

No

20(15/5); 68 ± 10

22(18/4); 67 ± 8

<7d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (specialized care)

7d

Su 2002 [55]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

43(27/16); 58 ± 4

40(23/17); 57 ± 5

<12 m

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, stroke rehabilitation)

20-30d

Sun 2005 [56]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

40(27/13)

43(29/14)

<12 h

electro-scalp-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (specialized care)

12d

Sun 2012 [57]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

35(23/12); Mean 57.5

35(17/18); Mean 56

<3d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (specialized care)

14d

Wang 1998 [58]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

80; Mean 68

80; Mean 68

Mean 24d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs*

20d

Wang 2001 [59]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

106; 35–80

54; 35–80;

<1y

Electro-body-Ac

Ac

6w

Wang 2003 [60]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

32; 46–77

32; 46–77

<14d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs*

20d

Wang 2008 [61]

Chinese

ICH

RCT

No

45(30/15); Mean 62

45(29/16); Mean 63

<7d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care)

4w

Wang 2009 [62]

Chinese

infarction

Quasi-RCT

No

65(33/32); Mean 72.2

50(26/24); Mean 70.1

≤3d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

ENS + WCTs* (antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd, stroke rehabilitation)

4w

Wang Q (unpublished Master’s thesis, 2009) [63]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

Yes

24(15/9); Mean 62.4

22(14/8) Mean 57.1

<2w

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs*(general supportive care)

4w

Wang X W (unpublished Master’s thesis, 2011) [64]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

31(17/14) Mean 57.4

30(19/11) Mean 60.3

<3d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd, treatment of acute complications)

14d

Wayne 2005 [65]

English

infarction ICH

RCT

No

16(12/4); 38–89

17(12/5); 42–69

>6 m

electro-scalp-body-Ac

Sham Ac

10w

Wei 2008 [66]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

46(29/17); Mean 59.4

44(23/21); Mean 56.4

2–7d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, stroke rehabilitation)

5w

Wong 1999 [67]

English

infarction ICH

RCT

No

59(38/21); Mean 60.4

59(42/17); Mean 60.6

<14d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs*

2w

Wu 2008 [68]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

30; 46–75

30; 46–75

>1 m

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation)

30d

Wu 2009 [69]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

29(16/13); Mean 56.7

29(17/12); Mean 58.5

<14d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd)

14d

Wu 2011 [70]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

30(18/12)

30(19/11)

>3w

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, stroke rehabilitation)

6w

WuXL 2008 [71]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

32(20/12); Mean 67.2

29(19/10); Mean 66.6

<7d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* + Ac

3 m

Xue 2007 [72]

Chinese

infarction; ICH

RCT

No

18(14/4); Mean 66.1

18(15/3); Mean 64.2

<2w

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (stroke rehabilitation)

4w

Yu 2005 [73]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

16(10/6); 40–76

14(8/6); 40–75

<3d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (vasodilators, neuroprotective agents)

2w

Yue 2012 [74]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

33(21/12); Mean 70.4

31(18/13); Mean 69.8

80-163d

electro-body-Ac

Ac

1 m

Zhang 1995 [75]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

40(23/17); Mean 65.8

40(22/18); Mean 68.7

<7d

electro-scalp-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (specialized care)

20d

Zhang 2006 [76]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

32(17/15); Mean 62.7

25(15/10); Mean 64.5

<6 m

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* + Ac

30d

Zhang 2008 [77]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

49(26/23) Mean 51.5

49(24/25) Mean 54.7

<2w

Electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, stroke rehabilitation)

2 m

Zhang 2009 [78]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

30(12/18); Mean 55.7

30(15/15); Mean 58.4

<3y

Electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs*(stroke rehabilitation)

1 m

Zhang 2013 [79]

Chinese

infarction

Quasi-RCT

No

45(27/18); Mean 65.5

45(30/15); Mean 63.2

<3d

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, neuroprotective agents)

4w

Zhang SS (unpublished Master’s thesis, 2009) [80]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

29(17/12); Mean 62.9

29(16/13); Mean 63.6

<10d

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, treatment of acute complications, stroke rehabilitation)

3w

Zhang X, (unpublished Master’s thesis, 2008) [81]

Chinese

infarction

RCT

No

60(33/27); 40–80

30(17/13); 40–80

<2w

electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, antiplatelet agents aspirin 0.1 g po qd, treatment of acute complications, stroke rehabilitation)

2w

Zhao 2005 [82]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

60(36/24); Mean 63.0

60(31/29); Mean 67.4

<2w

electro-scalp-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care, (treatment of acute complications, stroke rehabilitation)

1 m

Zhu 2012 [83]

Chinese

infarction ICH

RCT

No

40; 32–69

40; 32–69

<2w

Electro-body-Ac + WCTs#

WCTs* (general supportive care, specialized care)

1 m