Effect of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Cupping, and Medicated Thread Moxibustion on Sports Injuries

Abstract Objective: We explored the clinical effect of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, cupping therapy, and Zhuang medicine thread moxibustion therapy on sports pains and injuries to explain this comprehensive therapy’s treatment mechanism from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine and Zhuang medicine on the mechanism of Qi, blood, and body fluid. Method: From 65 athletes who experienced sports pains and injuries during track and field and ethnic sports training for university sports events, we selected 32 patients as an observation group for comprehensive treatment with traditional Chinese medicine and Zhuang medicine. The treatment effect was compared with that of the 33-patient control group who received conventional therapy. Result: The visual analogue scale was used to evaluate pain level, diagnose pain and injury severity, and evaluate efficacy. Comprehensive therapy had excellent efficacy for mild patients, and moderate-to-low intensity training could be performed during recovery. The observation group’s efficacy in delayed onset muscle soreness, mild injury, and severe injury was significantly better than that of the control group (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture and moxibustion and cupping therapy combined with Zhuang medicine thread moxibustion therapy formed an integrated effect of treatment, cleared the veins, eliminated obstacles, unblocked meridians, relieved pain, promoted normal operation of Qi, blood, and body fluid, and restored vitality. Comprehensive therapy has the characteristics of simplicity, controllability, and effectiveness. Compared with conventional treatment, comprehensive therapy more effectively alleviated exercise-induced pain, especially with significant analgesic and rehabilitation effects on exercise-induced injuries. The consistency between the therapeutic effects of comprehensive and conventional therapies explains the unity of traditional Chinese medicine and modern medical principles. The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine can effectively treat sports injuries by leveraging their respective advantages, and this is also an effective path for traditional Chinese medicine’s sustainable development.