Two decades of research in soccer and acupuncture: to what point should we stick?

Soccer is the most popular sport with nearly 260 million participants of either sex and all ages worldwide (1). Elite soccer players perform high-speed running while dribbling, passing, kicking or throwing the ball during training and competitions. Players are also required to make fast, accurate movements requiring multi-directional body deceleration and acceleration, in addition to rapid changes of direction—therefore requiring high-level performances. Nonetheless, the physical and psychological stress associated with training and competition might temporarily affect the players’ capacity for subsequent performance and increase the risk of musculoskeletal injuries (2). Injuries of the lower extremity are highly frequent (~70%) in professional soccer players, with an average of 8 injuries per 1,000 h of exposure. Each player accumulates on average 2 injuries/season, which might result in a decline in physical performance during the hours and days following training and/or competition (2). Recovery is complete when the player reaches or exceeds a benchmark performance in at least one particular task related to muscle strength, power, or postural balance. In this scenario, there is a need for valid and reliable techniques to prevent musculoskeletal injuries, improve sports performance and accelerate the rehabilitation of injured soccer players. Herein we summarize the evidence obtained over the last two decades of research in acupuncture intervention for promoting health, healing soccer injuries, and increasing the performance of élite soccer players. What is acupuncture?