Research Progress on the Prevention and Treatment of Exercise-Induced Fatigue by Acupuncture

Exercise-induced fatigue is a common phenomenon after intense exercise or labor, which significantly affects an individual’s exercise performance and physical and mental health. Its timely recovery is crucial for enhancing exercise capacity and preventing injuries. Acupuncture, as a “simple, convenient, inexpensive, and effective” non-pharmaceutical therapy in traditional Chinese medicine, has shown potential unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of exercise-induced fatigue. This narrative review summarizes the recent research progress, with core mechanisms including the inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation, regulation of energy metabolism, and improvement of central nervous system function, which are mainly verified by preclinical animal studies and partially supported by small-sample clinical trials. The application effects are reflected in the fact that pre-acupuncture before fatigue can enhance anti-fatigue reserves, and post-fatigue treatment can alleviate symptoms and promote recovery, with human evidence limited to small-scale clinical observations. In conclusion, acupuncture has potential therapeutic effects on the prevention and treatment of exercise-induced fatigue, providing a theoretical and practical reference for clinical application.