Chinese Acupuncture; Spinal Problems – Studies

In recent years, acupuncture has been the subject of growing clinical research, especially in the treatment of chronic pain and spinal cord injuries. This article reviews two studies that examined the effect of acupuncture on patients with spinal cord injury: one on neurological function in the acute stage, and one on chronic pain further down the road. The studies offer a cautious but encouraging picture of the possible contribution of acupuncture alongside conventional medical treatment.

Acupuncture and Acute Spinal Cord Injury

A clinical study on this topic examined the effect of acupuncture on patients with acute spinal cord injury. One hundred patients were randomly divided into two groups: the control group received standard rehabilitation alone, while the treatment group received electro-acupuncture, acupuncture with electrical stimulation, in addition to rehabilitation. Both groups were assessed for neurological and functional scores at three points: at enrollment, at hospital discharge, and one year after the injury.

Acupuncture treatment began as soon as possible after the injury, and the points chosen included the bilateral points Huxi SI-3 and Shenmai BL-62, alongside four typical acupuncture points related to the lower back, the spine, and overall Qi flow. The group that received acupuncture showed significant improvement in both scores compared with the control group.

Acupuncture and Chronic Spinal Pain

A further study, conducted at the orthopedics department of the New Jersey Medical School, examined the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic pain following spinal cord injury. Twenty-two patients who had suffered moderate to severe pain for at least six months received a course of fifteen acupuncture treatments over a period of about seven and a half weeks, alongside a parallel untreated control group.

Patients were asked about their pain intensity: ten patients, about 46% of the group, reported improvement in pain intensity and in pain medication use after treatment, while six patients, about 27%, reported pain that was still present three months after the treatments ended. Based on these results, the researchers concluded that acupuncture may provide relief from chronic pain following spinal cord injury (Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001 Nov, 82(11): 1578-86).

What the Studies Suggest

Both studies suggest that acupuncture may contribute both to functional rehabilitation in the acute stage of spinal cord injury and to relief of chronic pain further down the road. At the same time, these are studies of limited scope, and it is important to view them as a complement to existing medical knowledge rather than a substitute for it. It is worth remembering that the sample sizes in these studies are relatively small, so further, larger-scale research is needed to establish firm conclusions. Anyone dealing with chronic pain or spinal cord injuries is also welcome to read about when acupuncture can help, to better understand which conditions it may suit.

Chinese Medicine as a Complement to Medical Care

It is important to emphasize that acupuncture, like other complementary treatments, is not a substitute for conventional medical diagnosis or treatment, but an additional tool that can work alongside it. In cases of spinal cord injury in particular, acupuncture should be coordinated with the treating medical team and adapted to each patient’s specific condition.

Book a Treatment

Anyone suffering from pain, muscle problems, or skeletal issues, or who knows someone dealing with these, is welcome to seek acupuncture and Chinese massage treatment at Shai Davids’ clinics in Jerusalem and Ramat Gan. Feel free to get in touch to schedule an assessment.