J Spinal Cord Med. 2003 Spring; 26(1): 12-20.

Acupuncture and spinal cord medicine.

Paola FA, Arnold M.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Ethics and Humanities, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida 33612-4799, USA. fpaola@hsc.usf.edu

BACKGROUND: The National Institutes of Health has concluded that the potential value of acupuncture justifies expanding its use into conventional medicine and studying it further. METHODS: Literature review of acupuncture as it pertains to spinal cord medicine. RESULTS: Acupuncture has been used to treat a number of spinal cord injury (SCI)-related conditions, including motor deficits, pain, spasticity, and syringomyelia. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture shows promise as an intervention in the treatment of SCI-related conditions. Further research, carried out in careful and systematic fashion by qualified practitioners of acupuncture in concert with spinal cord medicine specialists, is needed.