We explored the effect of adjunctive acupuncture on secondary osteoporosis in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Methods
Patients with subacute SCI were recruited and divided into two groups by patient choice: group 1 patients received standard combination therapy and group 2 patients received combination therapy plus acupuncture for 3 months. The concentrations of IgG, IgM and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) in serum and the bone mineral density were measured before and after treatment.
Result
The decrease in the concentration of TNFα and IgM in patients in group 2 compared with those in group 1 was statistically significant. The IgG level showed no significant change in either group. Bone mineral density increased more after adjunctive acupuncture, but the difference was not significant.
Conclusions
Further research is needed to determine whether acupuncture as an adjunct to combination therapy can reduce osteoporosis in patients with subacute SCI.
Trial Registration Number
P153-2008-36
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