마라톤 후 급성 스포츠 손상에 대한 침치료의 임상적 의의

Clinical Significance of Acupuncture Treatment for Acute Sports Injuries Following a Marathon

Objectives This study aims to examine the clinical implications of acupuncture in the management of acute sports injuries occurring after marathon events, focusing on on-site emergency medical settings and integrating evidence from domestic and international literature. Methods We reviewed data from “A Descriptive Analysis of 199 Marathon Participants with Acute Sports Injuries Treated by Acupuncture” (KAMMS, 2013) and supplemented it with international systematic reviews on sports-re-lated acupuncture (IJERPH, 2020). Descriptive analysis of the marathon field data and literature-based comparison were performed to evaluate treatment patterns, efficacy, and safety. Results Among 199 marathon participants who received acupuncture at the emergency support center, 74.4% had lower extremity pain (knee 51, ankle 27, calf 17). Manual acupuncture with strong De-qi stimulation and Dong’s acu-puncture points (Yeong-gol, Hwa-gwan, ST36, LI11, LR3) was applied. Immediate analgesic effects were observed, with no reported adverse reactions. Literature review further confirmed that acupuncture (manual, electro-acupuncture, or auricular) is effective in reducing acute musculoskeletal pain, improving function, and shortening re-covery time in athletes. Conclusions Acupuncture demonstrates significant potential as a non-pharmacologic, rapid-response intervention for acute musculoskeletal injuries during marathon events. However, standardized clinical protocols and prospective controlled trials are needed to establish robust evidence within sports medicine and emergency care frameworks.