OBJECTIVE: To observe the functional rehabilitation of injured peripheral nerve with electric acupuncture. METHODS: Sciatic nerve injury model was established by transection of left sciatic nerve in 60 Wistar rats, which were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group was treated with electroacupuncture, no treatment in the control group. Change of nerve electrophysiological, power of muscle and sciatic functional index (SFI) were observed. RESULTS: Nerve muscle-action potential (MAP) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) in the experimental group were better than that of the control group (P lt; 0.01). The single muscle twitch and tetanization of gastrocnemius muscle were higher in the experimental group too (P lt; 0.05). SFI were significantly higher in the experimental group (P lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electric acupuncture therapy can improve functional rehabilitation of injured peripheral nerve.