Does Acupuncture Improve Athletic Performance?

The Journal of Strength Conditioning Research, (24:1421-1427, 2010) reports that a study from the Near East University in Turkey concluded that acupuncture increases strength and power and causes physiological changes that can improve endurance.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If acupuncture has been used for over 2,000 on the greatest of martial artists to improve strength and power, it can help you too!  I have quite a number of professional athletes in my practice who see me on a regular basis to improve their running time, fight stamina, jumping abilities and overall vitality.  Whether you're a weekend warrior or yogi, acupuncture can work for you!

Acupuncture Improves Exercise Tolerance

Acupuncture can ‘remarkably’ improve exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure say German cardiology researchers.  Their study included 17 patients with congestive heart failure with mild or marked limitation to their activity- all on optimised medication. They were randomised to receive acupuncture or placebo – a needle that simulates the procedure without piercing the skin.  No improvement in cardiac ejection fraction or peak oxygen uptake was seen.  But the six minute walk distance was ‘remarkably increased’ in the acupuncture group by 32m on average, compared to a drop of 1m in the placebo group.
Post-exercise recovery and ventilatory efficiency were both improved in the acupuncture group but not in the placebo group.
Study leader Dr Johannes Backs, head of the research group at the department of cardiology at Heidelberg University Hospital said: ‘This is the first indication that acupuncture may improve exercise tolerance in CHF patients- when given in addition to optimised standard heart failure medication.’
By Lilian Anekwe, Heart, online 15 June

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Both professional and amateur athletes come to my office on a regular basis to both increase and maintain their fitness level and recover from competition.  Whether you are a weekend warrior or superhero, try acupuncture once per week for 12 weeks and see how your 'game' improves!