Acupuncture Can Prevent Shoulder Sports Injuries
The shoulder is a common injury site for young athletes. This is especially true for those in sports involving repetitive overhead motions such as swimming and rugby. Previous studies reveal that up to 91% of swimmers and 55.6% of rugby players are at risk for shoulder injuries. (Wanivenhaus et al., 2012; Bathgate et al., 2002).
A shoulder injury can negatively affect an athlete’s performance and in rare cases prematurely end their career. It is therefore of utmost importance to educate athletes about shoulder injury prevention and treatment options.
Common sport-related shoulder injuries include:
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Rotator cuff tears
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Dislocations
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Sprains
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Strains
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Bruising
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Bursitis
The role of muscle fatigue in sports shoulder injuries
Muscle fatigue to the decline of a muscle’s performance. It is characterized by soreness, pain, muscle twitching, and cramps. In several studies, muscle fatigue has been associated with an increased risk of injury (Dugan & Frontera, 2000).
How acupuncture can prevent and treat muscle fatigue
Muscular endurance is the ability to repeat an activity for a long time without developing fatigue.
Acupuncture has also been shown to reduce symptoms of muscle fatigue such as soreness (Cardoso et al., 2020).
The research
Preventing muscle fatigue
A recent study published in the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal investigated whether acupuncture could improve shoulder muscle endurance (Wang et al., 2020).
The Chinese study included 20 female athletes from a sports university.
All athletes underwent one session of acupuncture. Eleven acupuncture points related to shoulder muscle movement were selected for this study.
Following the session, the athletes were asked to perform several exercises. The researchers found that athletes were able to perform exercises longer without developing muscle fatigue. The results of this study suggest that acupuncture may improve endurance.
Treating muscle fatigue
A study published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies explored the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of muscle fatigue (Cardoso et al., 2020)
The study included 45 patients between the ages of 18 and 40. All patients were suffering from muscle pain and soreness following exercise.
The researchers divided participants into one of two treatment groups:
1. Real Acupuncture
2. Sham acupuncture
Patients in both groups received two acupuncture treatments. Patients in the real acupuncture group received treatment at acupoints related to muscle soreness. Patients in the sham acupuncture group received treatments at non-acupoints.
Following the treatments, researchers followed up with the participants. They found that patients in the real acupuncture had significantly less pain than those in the sham acupuncture group.
The results of this study suggest that acupuncture is an effective treatment for muscle fatigue by reducing muscle pain and soreness.
Overall
Overall, the studies by Wang et al., 2020 and Cardoso et al., 2020 suggest that acupuncture can both prevent and treat muscle fatigue, reducing the likelihood of shoulder-related sports injuries.
References
Cardoso, R., Lumini-Oliveira, J. A., Santos, M. J., Ramos, B., Matos, L. C., Machado, J., Greten, H. J., & Franconi, G. (2020). Acupuncture can be beneficial for exercise-induced muscle soreness: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 24(1), 8–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.03.015
Dugan, S. A., & Frontera, W. R. (2000). Muscle fatigue and muscle injury. Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America, 11(2), 385–403.
Hübscher, M., Vogt, L., Ziebart, T., & Banzer, W. (2010). Immediate effects of acupuncture on strength performance: a randomized, controlled crossover trial. European journal of applied physiology, 110(2), 353–358. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1510-y
Wang, I.-L., Chen, Y.-M., Hu, R., Wang, J., & Li, Z.-B. (2020). Effect of Acupuncture on Muscle Endurance in the Female Shoulder Joint: A Pilot Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/9786367
Wanivenhaus, F., Fox, A. J., Chaudhury, S., & Rodeo, S. A. (2012). Epidemiology of injuries and prevention strategies in competitive swimmers. Sports health, 4(3), 246–251. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738112442132
