LOUISVILLE, Ky. – While most people would agree that needles and children don’t mix, University of Louisville pediatric intensivist Mark McDonald, M.D., finds that needles, when expertly applied, can be just what the doctor ordered for children with chronic, painful conditions.
“A Harvard study published in the journal Pediatrics found that children and adolescents not only tolerate acupuncture, but have relaxation associated with their treatment. More importantly, when all else had failed, a significant number of the study’s participants felt acupuncture eased their pain,” ”McDonald said.
McDonald completed 300 hours of training in acupuncture at Harvard University last year and offers outpatient acupuncture treatments at UofL Pediatrics—East near The Summit shopping center.
According to McDonald, Japanese acupuncture can be used for chronic painful conditions such as musculoskeletal injuries, migraines, fibromyalgia, sickle cell pain, endometriosis and arthritis. Treatment includes palpation and stimulation of specific acupuncture points using fine needles, electrical stimulation, magnets and low level laser therapy.