Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a therapeutic technique that is part of traditional Chinese medicine and is more than 3000 years old. It consists of the insertion of filiform, solid and sterile needles into specific points of the body to produce a physiological and therapeutic effect on the organism. Since 2003, acupuncture was recognized as a valid technique in the field of sports by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Is its effectiveness scientifically proven?
Yes, acupuncture points have been shown to have different biophysical properties from non-acupuncture points (Li et al., 2012). Their role has also been extensively analysed when it comes to the neurophysiology of pain, by participating in the release of substances that modulate pain signals and provide analgesia (Wang et al., 2008), and the reduction of fatigue, inflammation and improvement of sports performance (Kiang et al., 2021).
Acupuncture can treat any clinical condition of the animal. In sport horses, acupuncture is effective:
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In the sports conditioning stage, improving blood flow, muscular strength and reducing fatigue.
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In the treatment of injuries, improving inflammation, pain and tissue repair, and any other organic imbalance that may affect the horse's performance, such as digestive, circulatory, respiratory, neurological, behavioural, renal and endocrine problems.