Effect of acupuncture in physiological parameters and endurance running performance

Few studies have examined the effect of acupuncture (AC) treatment in aerobic capacity and endurance performance in healthy adults. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of AC on selected physiological parameters and 3 km running performance.

Twenty-four healthy subjects with low to moderate aerobic capacity participated in the study and randomly assigned in two groups: AC group (ACG - N.=14) and control group (CG - N.=10). The subjects completed an incremental test to exhaustion and a 3 km race on a treadmill to evaluate their physiological responses and endurance running performance respectively, prior and after 4 weeks (8 sessions, twice a week) of acupuncture treatment.

AC treatment had a significant main effect in T3km [F(1, 21)=7.173, P=0.014, partial η2=0.255], as well as in VT [F(1, 21)=8.476, P=0.008, partial η2=0.288] and HRmax@3km [F(1, 21)=4.930, P=0.038, partial η2=0.190], after controlling for the effect of the pre-test, while no other significant main effects were detected.

Healthy physically active adults significantly improved their endurance running performance after 4 weeks of AC treatment. This is mainly due to the enhancement of the speed corresponding with VT, comparing with their baseline values.