Application of traditional Chinese therapy in sports medicine

Abstract

Chinese herbs have been used as dietary supplements to improve exercise performance. However, evidence-based studies for the use of Chinese herbs in sports remain scarce. Traditional Chinese therapy (TCT), a form of traditional Chinese non-pharmacological intervention, has remained in use for thousands of years in sports medicine. TCT is beneficial for sports injuries and in enhancing skill development, and is becoming increasingly popular among athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and individuals who regularly exercise. The therapeutic effects of TCT have been demonstrated by clinical and experimental studies, but using these modalities still is associate with potentially adverse effects. Further well-designed studies are necessary to confirm the efficacy of TCT in sports medicine. This review aims to summarize the application of TCT, discuss the issues surrounding TCT clinical research, and provide suggestions for applying traditional Chinese methods in the field of sports medicine.

Keywords

Traditional Chinese therapy / Sports medicine / Acupuncture / Moxibustion / Cupping / Tui Na

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Funding

the National Key R & D Programme of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2019YFF0301704); the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81704190); the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82074576); Sichuan Science and Technology Project(2019YFS0526); and the Key Laboratory of Sports Medicine of Sichuan Province.