Chinese researchers investigating acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation have found that the addition of acupuncture to physical therapy for patients with shoulder-hand syndrome, significantly contributes to pain reduction and functional improvements. A total of 178 patients received either standard rehabilitation therapy or standard therapy plus acupuncture, in a hospital setting. Acupuncture was given once per day for a month.
At the end of the treatment period, early pain relief, upper extremity motor function and quality of life, were all significantly better in the acupuncture group.
(A clinical study on acupuncture in combination with routine rehabilitation therapy for early pain recovery of post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome. Experimental & Therapeutic Medicine, 18 December 2017.)
A systematic review by Korean authors investigating acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease, suggests it may hold promise as a useful and safe adjunctive treatment. The review examined 42 studies involving 2625 patients. Subjects treated using acupuncture alongside conventional medicine showed significant clinical improvements compared with those treated with conventional medicine alone. Electro-acupuncture appeared particularly useful. The authors state that more rigorous and well-designed placebo-controlled trials should be conducted. 
A small qualitative study in the US of older adults with several co-existing medical conditions, has found that they value acupuncture as a means of reducing medication use, and maintaining physical and mental health. Fifteen patients aged 60 or older, and with at least two chronic medical conditions, were recruited from a no-cost, college-affiliated San Diego acupuncture clinic for low-income older adults. Patients had been having acupuncture treatment for at least one year, usually on a weekly basis. 