Long thoracic nerve paralysis is a shoulder condition
characterized by pain and loss of shoulder movement due to injury or damage to
the long thoracic nerve. This nerve arises from three roots from the fifth,
sixth and seventh cervical nerves (C5-7) and supplies to serratus anterior
muscle that retains scapula to the chest wall. In addition serratus anterio
muscle is also involved in forward arm activities, such as boxing, and in
overhead activities. Due to its excessive length long thoracic nerve is more prone
to injury through direct trauma and stretch. The treatments of long thoracic
nerve injury include physiotherapy and surgery. Usually the recovery of the
nerve takes a long time, up to 2 years.
Recently a case study of long thoracic nerve paralysis reported
that acupuncture in combination with other therapies had speeded up recovery
following nerve injury. Dr. Berger reported that a female paediatric patient
aged 9 years with right long thoracic nerve palsy due to a ballet movement was
admitted to his clinic. The patient was unable to participate in physiotherapy
due to a complication of severe pain and other conditions. Acupuncture and
other therapies such as electrical current were used to treat patient. Acupuncture
was applied at different acupoints to alleviate the stress and pain, increase
shoulder mobility and improve muscle spasm in the shoulder. After 13 treatment
session over 2 months patient completely recovered with full normal function
and resumed her normal activities including gymnastics and ballet practice.
This
report is another example showing acupuncture is able to relieve multiple
symptoms during treatment.
Reference:
Berger P., Electrical current
and acupuncture treatment
for a paediatric
patient with a recurring
long thoracic nerve
paralysis. Acupuncture and Related
Therapies 2 (2014)
14–18. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211766013000170
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