Acupuncture alleviates myospasms and pain due to spinal cord injuries. Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers examined the effects of both acupuncture and electroacupuncture. In their clinical trial, both modalities produced significant patient outcomes. However, electroacupuncture edged out manual acupuncture with an 86.67% total effective rate. [1] Manual acupuncture scored a 79% total effective rate.
The researchers commented on the results. They note that acupuncture activates central nervous system GABA receptors and enhances motor neuron activity involved in nerve reflexes. The researchers comment that these improvements lead to reduced muscle tension and relief from myospasms.
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) treatment often involves highly specialized scalp acupuncture protocols in the field of Chinese medicine. This is required due to the intractable nature of spinal cord injuries. Notably, Prof. Ming Qing Zhu is a prominent figure in the field of scalp acupuncture neurology. Prof. Zhu developed specialized scalp acupuncture zones and techniques that produce significant outcomes for patients suffering from paralysis and spinal cord injury related disorders.
The Heilongjiang University researchers varied from the scalp acupuncture approach and focused on standard body acupuncture channel points. At HealthCMi acupuncture continuing education, we recommend incorporation of the Prof. Zhu scalp acupuncture system into future investigations to improve patient outcomes. Also notable is the source of data for the outcomes. Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is consistently a leader in research and publications in the field of acupuncture, including the text Syndromes of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Analysis of 338 Syndromes. The text is special because it includes all traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) differential diagnostic patterns. Chief compiler and president of Heilongjiang University, Prof. Huang Bing-Shan, personally presented the text in the USA at Five Branches University in Santa Cruz, California, in the early 1990’s.
Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers used a sample size of 60 patients admitted into the hospital from January 2018 to December 2020. Patients were randomly divided into a manual acupuncture group and an electroacupuncture group, with 30 cases in each group.
Symptoms presented by patients included severe pain in the affected area, sudden onset of muscle spasms, increased muscle tension, hyperactive tendon reflexes, paroxysmal muscle spasms, joint contracture, and deformity. Based on a 6-level SCI measuring scale designed by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), all patients were categorized into Level B (minimal movement) to Level D (active movement against resistance). Age range among patients was 25 to 75 years.
No patients had received any medicine that might cause muscular relaxation one month prior to the treatment. Blood tests, liver and kidney functions, electrocardiograms, and X-rays showed no irregularities that would interfere with the investigation, as a precondition of inclusion. Exclusion criteria were surgical history in the affected area, fever caused by infection, bone fractures, and severe peripheral nerve injuries.
Both groups underwent two weeks of treatment. Treatment was administered for 30 minutes, daily, for 6 consecutive days, followed by a one-day break.
