Inclusion Criteria:  age ≥ 18 years and ≤ 75 years ; within 7 days after the onset of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic), confirmed by a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain; GCS on admission ≤ 12 or NIHSS on admission ≥ 11 or APACHEⅡ ≥ 15; received mechanical ventilation; written informed consent is able to be obtained directly from the patient or an appropriate surrogate, based on local ethics committee recommendations.  Exclusion Criteria:  expected to be ventilated for < 24 h; already ventilated for > 72 h; GCS <5; with unstable vital signs and requiring the use of vasoactive agents; concomitant medical illness that would interfere with the outcome assessments and/or follow-up; had spinal cord injury above T8 level, or lower motor neuron impairment, or neuromuscular junction impairment，or chest wall deformities, or chest wall injuries within 6 months, or chest or abdominal surgery within 4 week, or were pregnant; had acute skin injury on the selected acupoints; currently participating in other investigational trials.