Acupuncture techniques in professional football

Unfallchirurg. 2018 Jun;121(6):450-454. doi: 10.1007/s00113-018-0500-0. []. [Article in German] Pfab F1,2,3, Sommer B4, Haser C4. Author information 1 Medizinisches Versorgungszentrum (MVZ) im Kloster, Planegger Str. 6, 81241, München, Deutschland. pfab@tum.de. 2 Zentrum für präventive und rehabilitative Sportmedizin, Technische Universität München, München, Deutschland. pfab@tum.de. 3 FC Ingolstadt 04, Ingolstadt, Deutschland. pfab@tum.de. 4 FC Ingolstadt 04, Ingolstadt, Deutschland. Abstract The number of scientific studies about acupuncture has increased significantly during recent years. Acupuncture can be used as an evidence-based adjunct therapy for a variety of indications in professional football. This review summarizes various acupuncture techniques and related techniques for utilization in the field of professional soccer. Besides knee, shoulder, spinal, elbow and postoperative pain, scientific meta-analyses also point towards the effectiveness of acupuncture in ankle sprains, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and nausea. Dry needling is an emerging option for treatment of myofascial trigger points and could potentially result in improved prevention of muscular injuries and enhancement of muscular performance. KEYWORDS: Ankle sprains; Dry needling; Nausea; Pain; Trigger points