EAR ACUPUNCTURE IMPROVES PERFORMANCE

Research has shown auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture) improves athletic recovery after strenuous exercise

Researchers aimed to test the effects of auricular acupuncture on athletes recovery. The subjects were selected from 24 elite basketball athletes and split into 2 groups, one group receiving acupuncture and the other as the control group. Both groups performed a ride on a stationary bike until exhausted. Heart rate, oxygen consumption and lactic acid were measured at 5, 10, 30 and 60 minutes after exercise. The results showed heart rate and blood lactic acid were significantly lower in the acupuncture group at the 30 and 60 minute tests post exercise. This study suggests that auricular acupuncture can improve the recovery of athletes after vigorous exercise. (Effects of auricular acupuncture on heart rate, oxygen consumption and blood lactic acid for elite basketball athletes. Am J Chin Med. 2011;39(6):1131-8).