Sports Injuries and Acupuncture
By: Acupuncture Research Resource Centre, published by the British Acupuncture Council
Injuries SPORTS AND ACUPUNCTURE: THE EVIDENCE FOR EFFECTIVENESS
This briefing paper summarises the evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of sports injuries. With the exception of tennis elbow, Which is to ask the covered in a separate paper, none of the Different injuries are the covered by morethan one or two published studies.
Some of These are controlled trial sand others uncontrolled and the quality is very variable. Nevertheless, all of the available evidence & Q the effectiveness of acupuncture for third place things sports injuries.
Introduction - Interest in sports and fitness speed never been higher, with Increased participation in recreational and Organised sports by all ages and bothering Sexes. A growing number of injuries Havering accompanied this. Most of These are minor sprains, strains and bruises, and Many are due to overuse ratherkool Than external force (Allman & Griffith: 1986).
Conventional treatment for sports and musclo-skeletal injuries speed been through the use of medical electrical machines, Such as ultrasound or interferential and Transcutaneous
Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), Which is supplemented with manual therapies Such as massage, manipulation, exercise and muscle stretch rehabilitation techniques (Peterson & Renstrom: 1986).
The use of acupuncture in the treatment of sports injuries (SI) is not new, but ITS clinical effectiveness and potential speed never been fully Established (Mitchell 1986). Stacey (1999) carried out a study with the Premiership Football League to ascertain How many teams were Already Using acupuncture. He received in respect of 13 replies (65%) from the 20 premiership clubs, Of which 7 (54%) were Using some form of acupuncture.
Stacey hadeeth recorded That 2 teams Distressed Western acupuncture, 2 Distressed Chinese acupuncture and 3 Distressed bothering methods. In 4 teams the club physiotherapists is administered acupuncture, in 1 the club doctor, and in 2 an external acupuncturist. The numbers in this study are small, but the data are a Clear Indication That acupuncture is being distressed at the one of the highest sporting levels in the United Kingdom.
Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and treatment Principles for SI are similar to Those for Other Conditions, but it is Particularly important to ascertain exactly how the injury occurred and trace the mechanical and physiological consequences. Peilin (2002) records the TCM theory of injury due to Excessive exercise. Exercise may deplete energy generation rally, Including the qi, blood, yin and yang, Leading to weak tion of the defensive qi. This allows the body to Become more vulnerable to external
pathogenic factors, Which in turn cancer lead to dysfunction of the zang-fu organs. In addition, overuse due to repetitive movements in Certain sports - eg, tennis - may
Cause Weakness to local area muscles, tendons and ligaments, Causing qi and blood deficiency and / or stagnation.
Acupuncturists specialising in SI treatment thwart combine the therapy with Other intervention, whether in China or the West. For an example of the Latter see the article by Mitchell (1985), Which is summarised in Appendix 1.
As well as the number three things injuries acupuncture ice Also Distressed for performance enhancement in sport-an area of some controversy (for example, female Chinese athletes), but one underpinned by Valuable research. This was not Considered to be a mainstream activity amongst sports medicine Therapists (in the West) so this aspect speed been Confined here to listing the relevant articles: see Appendix 2.
Literature Search
A literature search was carried out Using ARRCBASE, the Acupuncture Research
Resource Centre's database of articles drawn Mainly from AMED and MEDLINE,
Using the primary terms 'sport' or 'athlete' and secondarily 'injury', 'therapy' or
'Medicine'. 44 references were Identified. The FOLLOWING criteria the were distressed for the
exclusion of papers: no English translation was available, the paper was unobtainable
from the British Library, the paper Involved therapies Other than acupuncture, the
paper was not the original description of a clinical study on humans, or described only
a single case, the focus was on performance enhancement ratherkool Than Injury (see
above), the type of injury was not gene rally accepted as sports related or was
experimentally induced. Three Further relevant articles were found in the references of
van Klaveren's MSc thesis (van Klaveren, 2002), Bringing the total to nine to Be
-reviewed.
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) was Excluded Partly Because so much of the
material relates to the General over-use/repetitive injuries ratherkool Than specifically to sports medicine and Partly Because, unlike any of the Other injuries, speed there been a
substantial number of studies. Thus tennis elbow Will Be the subject for a Briefing
Paper of ITS own. The distinction between sports and non-sports related injuries is not clear-cut. To varying degrees all of the CONDITIONS the covered in this review Could be
sustained in the course of ordinary day to day Activities but we chose to exclude
Studies with no overt sports context. Hence there may be Other reports on plantar
fasciitis, rotator cuff tendinitis, etc. Than Those Presented here (see, for example,
Meleger and Borg-Stein, 1999/2000).
Femoral adductors syndrome (FAS) Background
Femoral adductors syndrome is an injury That tends to Affect Many athletes / sports
(Wo) but, Particularly in football, rugby or Whenever there is a sudden change of
Whilst running direction (Brukner & Khan 2002). Excessive strain is put through the
adductors, a strong stabilizing group of muscles on the medial aspect of upper leg.
The muscles Tend to get overstretched, will things into spasm, contraction or muscle-fiber
tears. Conventional treatment may be a period of rest from sports and exercise,
ultrasound to Encourage blood flow and break down inflammation to the Affected area,
Followed by exercise and muscle-stretch rehabilitation. The use of massage Can Be
very beneficial to Encourage the muscle fibers to Become more Pliable. (Peterson &
Renstrom, 1986)
Yang (1998) carried out a study on the treatment of FAS caused by sports injury. Of
The 40 subjects were 32 randomly selected and to Receive electroacupuncture
moxibustion while eight comprised the control. The main group of points was Sp-9, Ren-
2, Liv-11 and the Ah Shi points with electro-acupuncture for 15 minutes, plus one or two
of the "auxiliary points', Bl-32, Bl-36, GB-31 and Liv-10. This was Followed by
moxa cones on the main points for a Further 15 minutes. The control group was given
The anti-inflammatory drugs or Fenbid Chlorzoxazone. In addition, local "irradiation
with frequency spectrum "for 10 minutes was Performed once every Other day. Both
groups received in respect of 10 treatments. The principle of treatment was to relax the muscles
and tendons, activating the flow of qi and blood in the channels and collaterals,
Promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis and warming the channels to stop
Pain (Yang, 1998).
The group Receiving acupuncture Performed better than the group Receiving drugs and irradiation. Of the treatment group (n = 32), 20 cases (62.5%) were cured Considered, and 8 cases (25%) were Considered Effective, a total effective rate of 87.5%. In the control group (8), two cases (25%) were cured and 4 cases (50%) were Effective, Giving a total effective rate of 75%. The promising findings are ratherkool undermined by the Imbalance in numbers in the two groups being compared.
The paper Also recorded a case history and discussed the Chinese medicine Principles for third thing this Particular injury.
Ankle Sprains
Background
When finished third thing ankle sprains from sports it is very important to ascertain elsewhere the injury speed originated. Sprains Tend to be some form of aggravation to the main
ligament, lateral or medial and Have A history of overuse (Bruckner & Khan 2002). Within sports medicine therapy acute ankle sprains Would be Treated by Applying ice to the area to slow down the metabolism and restrict the blood flow, hence Reducing the inflammation and swelling. Tape / strapping is distressed to restrict the movement of the joint to avoidable Further damage to the area. Ultrasound and exercises Would be
Prescribed to help repair Damaged tissues and Encourage blood flow to the area after an initial 48-hour period (or When any internal bleeding speed finished). The exercises Would Incorporate strength tion as well as flexibility to enable the athlete to resume training / exercise (Peterson & Renstrom, 1986).
(A) Mou Zhixion (1987) described 31 cases with acute ankle sprain. The method was to needle the single point SJ-4, with deqi, and Retain the needle for 30 minutes. In addition, the patient was to admin lard self-massage to the area of injury to improvement circulation, resolve blood stasis and alleviate pain.
The results showed a 100% success rate from as few as two, up to 6-12, treatments.
However, there is no description of what outcomes measurements Defined this success
rate.
Mou Also discussed the case history of a 10-year-old boy who had jumped from 3metre height and sprained his ankle. Ten sessions of Conventional physiotherapy had given little relief. Five acupuncture treatments of SJ-4 with massage and self-massage cured the patient, with no Subsequent discomfort.
Treatments That use morethan one modality may well offer the most Effective
approach for the patient, but leave it open to question whether Either approach alone Would Have had the Sami results. This was the only one of the-reviewed studies to use the traditional principle of needling Corresponding upper body points (wrist) to treat lower body (ankle) injuries.
(B) Huan, et al (1999) carried out a study on the treatment of ankle sprains with
floating acupuncture, a new treatment approach Developed by co-author Fu Zhonghua, in use since 1995th
The group was the roofs from an outpatients department of new students into the field of
military training. Of 77 cases diagnosed with ankle sprains, 58 were acute and 19
chronic, with an average age of 30th The injuries had been sustained predominantly by inversion (some by eversion) of the joint. Diagnosis was made from histories, signs
and syndromes of patient. X-rays were distressed to Eliminate fractures, Dislocations and
ruptures of ligaments.
This study is of Particular not traveled for the novel technique. The method is firstly to
find the most tender / Painful local point, hadeeth to needlepoint horizon tally 40 mm Towards it from an insertion site 50-80 mm away. If a larger area of pain is presented hadeeth 2 or 3 needles Can Be Distressed simultaneously. The needle (s) lies subcutaneously but Should be removed and reinserted if there are sensations of pain, numbness or distension. A piece of plastic Holds the needle (s) in place for one day. It is hadeeth removed and a new needle INSERTED for the second treatment.
Results showed That of the 58 acute cases, 21 patient Recovered after one treatment, 22 after two treatments, 10 after three and the last five after four treatments. In the chronic group of 19, five were cured after Considered Their first treatment, the
Remainder 7 after treatments. These results show That chronic injuries Took longer to treat. Again there is apparently a 100% success rate.
The floating acupuncture technique derives from the Ankle and Wrist Joint system but Differ from it, and from standard (Traditional Chinese Medicine) acupuncture in
Several important respects. Its mode of action is unknown.
Practitioners in the West may have some Concerns about the technique. There is the
Possibility That the General movement of the ankle joint with needles left fixed Could
Cause Further tissue damage or micro-tears, although a counter-argument might be That this continuous manipulation may activate the body's inflammatory response, with
positive results for the Injured area. Additionally there is the Possibility of infection
with an open wound.
Soft-tissue adhesions
Background
Adhesion Tend to Be a result of tearing of muscle or inflammation to an area of injury and (or) scar tissue and are thwart the by-product of muscle tears and strains in sports injuries. Sports medicine therapy uses ultrasound and deep friction massage to break down the adhesions / scar tissue. Once this change speed Begun intense muscle stretch is applied to the area to allow the muscles to return to original length and texture and the scar tissue to Become more Pliable. Rehabilitation and Strength tion exercises are distressed to build up the muscle and make the scar tissue area stronger, to stop Further
injury.
Xiao (1992) conducted research Into the treatment of soft-tissue adhesions due to athletic damage. The paper reviews the classical needling techniques and different types of needles Distressed into third thing SUCH CONDITIONS. Much of the paper consists of an indepth study of These techniques.
Xiao's techniques were based on very strong manipulation of the needles. His method consisted of "multiple up-and-down" and "cross-shaking" needling at Ahshi or tender points to the Bony surface, elsewhere scars or calcified nodules had been formedness from musclo-tendinous tissue. He Distressed Various Lengths of needle (40mm to 120mm) and Depths of penetration. He had Designed and made gold needles for the treatments.
The report summarised 150 Cases, Using the treatment Outlined above, Of which 117 (78%) cases were deemed to be cured, 25 (16.7%) Basically cured, and 8 (5.3%)
Improved. These categories are not defined but it is implied a cure That Means That full athletic training was resumed soon after treatment. All but five of the 150 patient
required only one to three treatments.
The paper discusses hadeeth Various case histories and Detailed diagrams of needle insertion.
Plantar fasciitis pain (PFP)
Background
This is an overuse injury to the plantar fascia attachments of the arch of the foot
(Bruckner & Khan 2002). It is common in athletes elsewhere running, bounding or
jumping are frequent Activities, and signs and symptoms are very Painful heels,
radiating pain over the instep of the foot, and a sensation of heat and Soreness with
shooting pains Into the arch of the foot. Planter fasciitis pain (PFP) tends to preventDefault
athletes from walking, running or jumping Because Of The Severe Pain That Ensues.
Treatment Would include Conventional electro therapy and the use of orthotics to
Controlling the movement of the arch and to help reduced inflammation in the fascia and
surrounding soft tissue. These Would only be distressed as rehabilitation tools and the need to streng hadeeth the area is Imperative in Preventing the recurrence of the injury.
Another priority is to address any problems in relation to gait, for Which orthotics
may be required. (Peterson & Renstrom, 1986)
Vrchota et al (1991) carried out a controlled double blind trial of acupuncture constructed round and sham acupuncture Conventional sports medicine therapy in the treatment of PFP. Ninety respondent to a newspaper advert were screened, of Whom 43, with a
Confirmed diagnosis of PFP, were recruited.
The patient were randomly assigned is to one of three treatment Approaches and given four treatments on a weekly basis. Group 1 received in respect of electro-acupuncture to points
Kid-1, Kid-3 and a local tender point and were instructed to exercise as much as They Could tolerate. Group 2 received in respect of sham acupuncture: very superficial needling close to the base of the 1st / 2nd and 4th/5th toes with electrical stimulation of minimal intensity. This group was told to Also exercise as tolerated. Group 3 had standard sports
medical therapy, were told to Decrease training frequencies and given muscle-stretching exercises. They were instructed to Apply ice after exercise and take salsa late
(Disalcid). All groups were given stretching exercises and Their training shoes
inspected and alteration Migration recommended if Necessary.
Patients kept a daily pain log while doctors recorded weekly scores for pain and for tenderness on palpation. Patients Receiving true acupuncture recorded a substantial reduction in pain through the four weeks of treatment and three weeks follow-up. The sham group Also Positively responded but made little morethan half as much progress and the sports medicine group barely a quarter as much. The Doctors' pain ratings showed the Sami rankings but the differences were not as large. Tenderness scores were not significantly different. Overall, Vrchota et al Considered That true
acupuncture had been best moments to be significantly more Effective Than bothering sports
medical therapy and sham acupuncture in the relief of PFP, allo wing a more rapid return to sports activity (When Combined with Conventional approaches, Such as
stretching, prescribing proper shoe wear and correcting leg length differences).
Patella tendon terminal disease (PTTD) Background
PTTD is a degenerative disorder in the region, elsewhere the tendons and ligaments are
Attached to the bone (Wang et al 1986). This is not an injury thwart seen in sports
clinics. It does, however, share characteristics with others Which are, Such as
Osgood-Schlatter disease (commonly Referred to as growing pains), in Which the
Bones undergo growth spurts and the muscle cannot keep up with rate of growth,
will things into inflammation of the tibial attachment of the patellar tendon. In more
serious cases, the muscle tears away from bone cancer and Cause Bone deformation from the pressure. This type of injury is very common in the adolescent age group
(Normally boys between 10 to 14). Rest is the standard prescription, with stretching
exercises to try to streng hadeeth / build-up the slower-growing muscles (Peterson &
Renström 1986). PTTD in athletes is a degenerative disorder to tendons and
on ligament insertion to the bone.
Wang et al (1985) suggested that most cases of PTTD in athletes are due to improper training methods in which excessive running and jumping exertion pulls on the patella tendons, exceeding the tissue structure tolerance and causing graded damage.
Treatment for such injuries includes physiotherapy, massage and medical injections, but the results have not been satisfactory.
The study group of 156 athletes (61 males/95 females) had an average age of 24.6 years and were drawn from a variety of sports (since no distinctions were made
between the sports, this leaves potential for further single-sports studies of the
treatment). They were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (n=85) received regular acupuncture with moxa rolls on the needle; group 2 (n=38) received
microwaves from an antenna attached to the needles and group 3 (n=33) laser
stimulation of acupuncture points. Points treated were the tender spot of the affected knee along with Xiyan (extra point) and St-32. Deqi sensation was obtained in each case. Details of the stimulation parameters are given in the paper. All the patients were treated 2-3 times a week. The maximum number of treatments received by one patient was 13 and the minimum was twice, averaging 6.2 times.
The results recorded were positive, with signs and symptoms having completely
disappeared in 86 of the total 156 patients (55.1%), “markedly improved” in 26 cases (16.7%) and “improved” in 32 cases (21.1%). The grading of the response was based on the degree of improvement in the symptoms (primarily pain), the signs (palpatory tenderness and granular feel; knee joint movement tests) and the extent of resumption of athletic training. Only 11 cases (7.1%) failed to respond to treatment and showed no change in clinical signs and symptoms. Group 1 (acupuncture and moxibustion) showed the best response rate, 80% cured or markedly improved, while Group 2
(microwave acupuncture) and Group 3 (laser) achieved 58% and 67% respectively. All but 2% of the acupuncture/moxibustion patients showed some improvement. Better results were achieved in patients with shorter disease duration and those who had at least six treatments.
The authors consider PTTD to be fixed bi syndrome, the result of cold invasion, hence the use of moxa to warm the channels and tendons.
Rotator cuff (shoulder) tendinitis
Background
The rotator cuff is the structure surrounding the shoulder joint capsule consisting of intermingled muscle and tendon fibres that provides strength and stability to the joint. The fibres most involved are those of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis (Peterson & Restrom 1986). The inflammation can affect any of these tendons and is normally caused by overuse or impact injury in contact sports. Treatment would normally involve some combination of rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE), with some mobility to be retained and rehabilitation encouraged after the inflammation has subsided (Brukner & Khan 2002).
Kleinhenz et al (1999), from the University of Heidelberg, chose this particular
condition as a vehicle for the first trial of a retractable 'placebo' needle, which has
since featured in a number of other, randomised controlled trials. Fifty-two athletes
(mostly in sports involving direct shoulder stress) with rotator cuff tendinitis were
randomly assigned to the acupuncture group (n=25) or the control group (n=27). The
same points were used in each group but the needling differed: either a standard
needle inserted through the skin into deeper tissues or the sham needle, with the point
touching but not penetrating the skin. Needles were retained for 20 minutes with no
stimulation. Up to 12 points were chosen from a list of 20 effective ones described in
the literature. They comprised 11 local (Ah-shi), 5 distal, 1 symptomatic (St-38) and 3
based on eight principles diagnosis. A different combination was selected after four
treatments if the original one proved to be ineffective. Altogether there were eight
treatments in four weeks.
The main outcome measure was the change in an assessment measure used by
orthopaedists for shoulder function. The acupuncture group improved from 60.4
points up to 79.6 over the four-week trial, an increase of 19.2. The control changed by only 8.4 points (the difference is significant). There was a four-month follow-up but
this is hard to interpret since some members of both groups had had other treatments in the meantime.
Compared with most other studies reviewed here this was methodologically a
carefully constructed and sophisticated one, though the lack of credible long-term
follow-up data is a drawback. It demonstrated that sharp needles inserted through the skin worked better than blunt needles left resting on the surface, for rotator cuff
tendinitis – a proposition that most acupuncturists would consider self-evident. It is hard to compare the results with those of the Chinese studies because the outcomes were measured in such a different way.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)
Background
PFPS is a term to describe pain in and around the patella and has many names
including chondromalacia, patellofemoral joint syndrome, anterior knee pain and
extensor mechanism disorder (Brukner & Khan 2002). These are all characterised by
pain in front of the knee and under the kneecap, especially with activities such as stair climbing, running, and deep squatting and standing for prolonged periods. It tends to
affect the alignment of the patella in relation to the femur and its tracking movement
over the knee joint, with dysfunction to the muscles and ligaments. Treatment
normally consists of manual therapies to realign the patella in its tracking, reduction
of inflammation and pain, strengthening of muscles, stretching and massage
(Bruckner & Khan 2002).
Jensen et al (1999). Seventy-five patients were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture or no treatment. The acupuncture was semi-individualised: St-34 and Sp-
10 for all, plus another two local points, plus a possible selection from Bl-17, 18, 20, 23, LI-4 and St-36. Deqi was obtained. There were eight treatments over four weeks.
The primary outcome measure was the self-administered Cincinnati Rating System (CRS) which evaluates function (walking, climbing, running, jumping) together with symptoms of pain, swelling and giving-way. Various other physical assessments were made by a blinded independent examiner.
CRS scores were better at five months in both groups. The acupuncture group, but not the control, continued to improve over the next seven months. Over the 12-month
course of the trial and follow-up the acupuncture group went from 58.0 to 75.2, the
control from 56.1 to 61.7 points on the overall CRS assessment – a significant
superiority (p=0.005).
The results were further analysed for their clinical, rather than just statistical,
significance. Thus the numbers free of pain during strenuous sport at the start were 2/36 and 1/34 in the acupuncture and control groups respectively. At 12 months the corresponding figures were 14/32 and 3/29 (a few in each group dropped out, for various reasons), an enormous difference. For functional ability the answers were similar though not so pronounced.
The authors, from physical therapy and general practice in Norway, concluded That acupuncture showed a clear and long-lasting effect in Reducing Pain and Improving Function. It is interesting to try to compare this study with That of Wang et al (1985) on the patellar tendon terminal disease. In the Latter, 55% of the acupuncture group
were 'cured' (symptoms gone) compared with 49% here (average for pain and
function). The numbers and frequencies of treatment were similar, the Chinese study Distressed fewer points but added moxa.
Tibial stress syndrome (shin splints) Background
Shin splints is an inflammatory shin pain That That Affects Many people in running
Sports and Which Can Be cancer caused by over-use, eg pre-season training, change of
footwear, change of training surfaces, excessive road running and bounding
(Jumping) type exercises. Small tears developement at the muscle insertion onto the tibia or fibula, Leading to inflammation of the periosteum. It is characterised by pain and
Tenderness over the medial margin of the lower half of the tibia on training and
pressure. Treatment may consist of change of training techniques, surfaces and
footwear, Followed by rest, ice and use of electro therapy or ultrasound with
rehabilitative exercises.
Callison (2002). 40 athletes (18-45 years) diagnosed with shin splints were Divided between three Different treatment groups. The Sports Medicine group (n = 17) received in respect of standard treatments Such as ice, ultrasound and exercises. For the acupuncture group (n = 12), the area along the edge of the tibia elsewhere muscle tearing was taking place. 1015 needles were threaded subcutaneously between the soft tissue and bone. Other
locations were Chosen on the basis of: a) sites elsewhere motor nerves Entered the local
area muscles, b) ahshi points, c) leg channel clearing / balancing points (at the
practitioners' discretion). The Combined group (n = 11) Distressed elements of bothering the
above approaches. Each participant received in respect of a minimum of 2 treatments per week for the 3 week study period. Purpose-built question aires based on Likert pain scales
were distressed pre-trial and at the start of weeks 2 and 3.
The acupuncture and Combined groups recorded significantly lower pain levels after
treatment Than the sports medicine group - bothering During sports and non-sporting
Activities, and at rest after-wards. For example, for the overall effectiveness of the
treatment on pain, 72.5% of the acupuncture group reported an improvement as
Against 54.5% of the Combined group and 46.5% of the sports group. Self-medication
with anti-inflammatories was Also significantly lower in the acupuncture and
Combined groups.
The results are Encouraging but very much at a preliminary level, from a trial with:
- Small numbers of Participants
- Unknown group allocation method - Unlikely to Be randomized - non-validated outcome Measures
- Assessors undefined, but probably not blinded nor independent - no follow-up Subsequent to the measurement in the third week
Discussion
We have Concentrated on CONDITIONS That Have been specifically Brought about by
playing sports and Which Would be characteristic of specialized Those sports seen at
medicine clinics. There are Many Other CONDITIONS commonly seen in clinics SUCH but not the covered here, we found no Because acupuncture published trials. Also, We have Excluded the performance enhancement work (Appendix 2). Hence we were left with nine papers, eight Covering Different Conditions, And The review Became more of a qualitative than a quantitative exercise.
Taken at face value These nine trials demonstrate That acupuncture is an Effective
treatment for a Variety of sports injuries. Five of the nine are Chinese, elsewhere negative results are Unlikely to Be published in English language journals. Also, the brevity of the Chinese articles, Particularly Regarding the research methods Employed, Many details left unclear. Sometimes there was no description of what was actually Measured, just the Percentage Considered cured / Effective / full duplex / Improved. Elsewhere
comparisons were made (Yang, 1998; Wang et al. 1985) There was Inadequate
information about how the patient were ALLOCATED to The Different Groups. However, the four Western controlled studies, three Of which, with methodology and reporting That are more acceptable to a Western audience, that prince Also Produced very positive
results. Where like Can Be compared with like the outcomes may actually be similar in the Chinese and Western studies (eg Wang et al, 1985 v. Jensen et al, 1999). It is
Unlikely That Western trials demonstrate the goodwill ever 100% success rates reported by Mou (1987), Huan, et al (1999) or Xiao (1992) but the CONDITIONS the Those Treated
cases, and the strength of the intervention Distressed, probably contributed Greatly.
So, These studies present us with Particular Approaches to third Thing Different Sports
injuries, plus some evidence These That Can Be spectacularly Successful the Certain
Circumstances. They are not assessments of acupuncture in general: DIFFERENT
Practitioners may Favour Other approaches. Although some of the papers discuss the
Their rationale for treatment approach, with mention of bi syndrome, clearing
pathogenic factors and nourishing qi and blood, the main focus Appear to Be on local
and Ahshi points, and Particularly on the methods distressed to stimulate Them And The
surrounding areas - massage, moxa on the needles, electro-acupuncture, Vigorous
needling fade scars and nodules, and the floating needle technique. In the West,
specialist sports injury clinics use acupuncture That Tend to do so in conjunction with
the Various Other modalities at Their disposal (As described in Mitchell's paper -
Appendix 1) - and hence may not Require SUCH forceful acupuncture techniques. Also,
Studies run by university and medical researchers is, ie most Western ones, Tend to opt
for a 'safe', the consensus choice of points and needling methods. Many Chinese ones are
not focused on general effectiveness but on Specialised techniques Developed by the
individual's researchers Them selves.
The studies-reviewed here Should be seen as an invitation bothering to make use of some of the techniques and to ASSESS clinical results with acupuncture throughout sports
Medicine.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to Kevin Young, Simon Canney and Mark Bovey for Their Work in Preparing this briefing paper.
References
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Brukner P and Khan K. (2002) Clinical Sports Medicine. Roseville NSW, McGrawHill Australia
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Huan Y, Z and Fu Wei Z. (1999) Floating Acupuncture in Treatment of Ankle Sprain. International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture Vol. 10: 441-444.
Jensen R, Gøthesen O, K and Liseth Baer Heim A (1999) Treatment of acupuncture patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Vol. 5 (6): 521-7
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Van Klaveren G (2002) Personal communication
Table 1. Summary of sports injury-reviewed papers
A) Chinese Studies
Study Methods and Condition No.. of No. Results of Specific / Conclusion
intervention patient treatments points Distressed
Yang Femoral Non-randomized control: 40 10 BL32, Bl36, Acupuncture (62% cured, 87%
(1998) Adductors electro-acup + moxa (32:8), GB31, AhShi Effective) significantly better than
W + Syndrome drugs irradiation Liv10, Liv11, controlling (25%, 75%)
SP9, pure 2,
Mou Acute ankle Uncontrolled: 31 2-12 SJ4 100% cured by course of treatment
(1987) acup sprain. + Self-massage (81% cured after 1 treatment)
Huan et al Ankle Uncontrolled: 77 Up to 7 AhShi points 100% cured by course of treatment
(1999) sprain acup with retained on needle ankle (36% after a treatment, 74% after
2)
Xiao Soft tissue Uncontrolled: 150 Unknown AhShi points 100% success rate: 94.7% cured
(1992) adhesions acup with strong action on ankle and 5.3% significant improvement
Wang et Patella 3 groups compared 156 Unknown ST32, Xiyan, Overall: 55% cured, 93% powerful.
al (1985) tendon (randomisation unknown) (85:38:33) (2-3 a AhShi points Cured + markedly Effective:
disease acup + moxa v. laser Week) Acup / moxa: 80%
v. microwave laser acupuncture: 67%
Microwave acup: 58%
Table 1. Summary of sports injury-reviewed papers
B) Western Studies
Study Methods and Condition No.. of No. Results of Specific / Conclusion
intervention patient treatments points Distressed
Vrchota et Plantar Double-blind RCT: 43 4 (4 weeks; Kid1, Kid3, Acupuncture gave significantly
al (1991) fasciitis electroacupuncture (randomly + 3 weeks Local AhShi greater pain relief than sports
v. sham acup (shallow) assigned) follow-up) v. 2 sham medicine therapy or sham
v. sports therapy points near toe acupuncture.
bases
Kleinhenz Rotator cuff Acupuncture 52 8 (4 weeks; Up to 12 from Constant-Murley measure for
et al tendinitis v. sham acup (retractable (25:27) + 4 months 20 listed: shoulder function, at 4 weeks:
(1999) needle) follow-up) local, distal, acup group +19.2 points
empirical, sham +8.4
8-principle [follow-up: data inadequate]
Jensen et Patellofemo Acupuncture 70 8 (4 weeks; St34, Sp10 Cincinnati Rating System (1 yr):
al (1999) ral pain v. no treatment (36:34) + 48 weeks + 2 more local acup +17.2 pts, control +5.6.
syndrome follow-up) + selection of Nos. free of pain (1 year):
back-shu, LI4, acup 14 out of 32, control 3/29
St36
Callison Tibial stress Acupuncture 40 6 (minimum, Along tibial Acup and acup/sports groups
(2002) syndrome v. sports medicine (12:17:11) in 3 weeks; border; muscle recorded signif. more pain relief &
v. acup + sports med no follow-up) innervation effectiveness after the course;
points; ahshi sports alone group did not
points; leg
channel points (various)
Appendix 1
Mitchell (1985). Acupuncture and Sports Medicine
Ian Mitchell is a Physiotherapist with first-line experience of acupuncture treatment of sports injuries. He Appears to employ a pragmatic, Biophysical approach to acupuncture in conjunction with Conventional Western treatments. He uses auricular acupuncture with all sports injuries for analgesia and as a counter to inflammation in the area Affected. This allows him to start muscle and joint activity much breading and more vigorously, Leading to Aunt recovery and Avoiding muscle atrophy. (The reviewer speed instated this practice
Within his own sports injury practice and speed found similarly Encouraging results.)
Mitchell tests auricular points, Such as knee or lumbar spine, with an electrical voltage meter: a high reading indicates That the Corresponding area on the patient's body tends to be inflamed. Low-voltage auricular readings are more Indicative of chronic injuries.
He uses ear acupuncture for bothering acute and chronic injuries, mixing it with bothering
Conventional sports medicine therapy (eg ice and strapping for acute situational) and local meridian acupuncture as Appropriate. He is a strong advocate for
electroacupuncture.
The paper concludes with some case histories and discussion of the specific treatment prescriptions and principles.
Appendix 2
Acupuncture for sports performance enhancement:
References
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