Acupuncture and Strength Training for Bodybuilders
Reprinted with permission from the published article “Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for the Bodybuilder” by Tony Burris, L.Ac.
A 2005 study in China, focused on the direct impact of acupuncture on muscle strength during resistance exercise, being defined as high intensity and short duration muscle contractions done in a series. Animal studies demonstrated the ability of acupuncture to delay fatigue of exercising muscle. Follow up studies on athletes used electro-acupuncture techniques and found that it significantly increased athletic performance and biomechanical indexes, maximal peak moment of force, their force movement accelerating energy, and average power. Results indicated an ability of acu-point stimulation to enhance rapid strength in athletes.
The most famous and effective acu-point for strength enhancement and muscle growth is known as Stomach 36 (Zusanli), located just below each knee on the tibialis anterior. It is used to fortify and strengthen the body’s qi, especially in the Kidneys, which the Chinese view is one of the most important organ systems to enhance for strength athletes.
Ever seen those strange potions in the window of a Chinatown herb shop meant to improve virility? Kidney tonics. Horny goat weed? Kidney tonic. The first thing the strength athlete must do to improve strength, according to Chinese medicine is to fortify the Kidneys. Period.
Acupuncture needling at Stomach 36 has shown a statistical increase in the strength of relevant muscles in treatment groups as opposed to control groups which show little or no increase in strength. The use of electro-acupuncture at this location also demonstrates the ability to improve anaerobic work in skeletal muscles.
Stomach 36 is located on the Stomach meridian in Chinese medicine which is paired with the Spleen meridian in terms of its therapeutic intention on the body. The Stomach meridian runs from the eye down the front of the body to the lateral leg, on down to the second toe. The Spleen meridian starts at the big toe and runs up the inside of the leg to the ribcage. The Spleen channel is the major channel for muscle growth and repair so this area will be a major focus in anabolic-supporting treatment plan using acupuncture.
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