Acupuncture speeded up recovery of long thoracic nerve paralysis

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