Spinal Cord Injury: How Could Acupuncture Help?
Qianqian, F., Omer, C., Lize, X., & Yun, X. · Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies · 2018 May 30
DOI 10.1016/j.jams.2018.05.002
Objective
This review provided the evidence of acupuncture's therapeutic effects on complications after spinal cord injury.
Conclusions
This review further described the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture for SCI complications and concluded that the effects of acupuncture appear to result from reduction of oxidative stress, inhibition of inflammation and neuronal apoptosis, regulation of the expression and activity of endogenous biological mediators, promotion of regenerative stem cells, and improvement of neuroplasticity. The identification of these mechanisms provides evidence for the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for complications after SCI.
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Insights
Acupuncture effectively manages a range of post-spinal cord injury complications, including motor and sensory dysfunction, pain, neurogenic bowel and bladder, pressure ulcers, spasticity, and osteoporosis.
The effect of acupuncture on post-spinal cord injury orthostatic hypotension and sexual dysfunction remains unclear.
Decreased oxidative stress, inhibition of inflammation and neuronal apoptosis, regulation of the expression and activity of endogenous biological mediators, and increased regenerative stem cell production are the possible mechanisms of acupuncture therapy for spinal cord injury.
Although many limitations have been reported in previous studies, given the evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture, we recommend that physicians should support the use of acupuncture therapy for SCI complications.
