06/18/2026
Ask us about the Nuero acupuncture that Dr. Brett Hightower has been offering at NextStep Raleigh.
A question came up as to what acupuncture -specifically neuropuncture- does to help brain injury patients.
DR. Hightower's short answer is it promotes neuroplastic development.
The longer answer is that new axonal growth—primarily through axonal sprouting and compensatory rewiring—can contribute to improved function and performance after traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Key Mechanisms
In the adult central nervous system (CNS), including the brain, true long-distance axonal regeneration (regrowing severed axons over long distances to their original targets) is limited due to inhibitory factors like scar tissue, myelin-associated inhibitors (e.g., Nogo), and other molecular brakes. However, axonal sprouting—where uninjured or partially damaged neurons extend new branches or collaterals to form compensatory connections—is a well-documented part of post-TBI recovery.
• Peri-lesional sprouting: New connections form around the injury site.
• Contralateral or remote sprouting: Intact areas (e.g., opposite hemisphere) send axons to denervated regions.
• This remodeling helps restore circuits for motor, sensory, and cognitive functions.
Studies show correlations between this sprouting and better behavioral outcomes in animal models of TBI. For example, interventions enhancing sprouting (e.g., stem cells, scaffolds, growth factors, or blocking inhibitors) lead to greater functional gains in sensorimotor and cognitive tasks.
Evidence from Research
• Axonal reorganization after TBI has been linked to spontaneous and therapy-enhanced recovery.
• Therapies promoting plasticity (e.g., rehabilitation, certain drugs, or biologics) amplify this process and improve outcomes.
• In related CNS injuries (stroke, SCI), axonal sprouting causally supports motor recovery, with similar principles applying to TBI.
