• Website for supplements, their interactions, effect on nutrient levels, pregnancy/lactation recommendations:
  • https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com
  • https://examine.com/
• Definition, What is CAM?
  • Website for the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) which gives an overview of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine: “Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s in a Name?” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Apr. 2021.

• Article on CAM and Athletes
  • Part 1: Herbs, supplements: 
    • O’Mathuna, Donal. “Alternative Medicine Reports: Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Athletes, Part I.” Relias Media – Continuing Medical Education Publishing, May 2001. 
  • Part 2: Treating injuries: 
    • O’Mathuna, Donal. “Alternative Medicine Reports: Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Athletes: Part 2.” Relias Media – Continuing Medical Education Publishing, May 2001. 
• Review article on CAM in Sports Medicine 
  • Malone MA, Gloyer K. Complementary and alternative treatments in sports medicine. Prim Care. 2013 Dec;40(4):945-68, ix. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.010. Epub 2013 Sep 26. PMID: 24209727.
• Prescription of CAM by sports medicine providers
  • Kent JB, Tanabe KO, Muthusubramanian A, Statuta SM, MacKnight JM. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Prescribing Practices Among Sports Medicine Providers. Altern Ther Health Med. 2020 Sep;26(5):28-32. PMID: 32663181.
• Journal link to an issue covering CAM in Sports Medicine with studies listed at the bottom of the page. Topics include: Qi gong, kinesio-taping, acupuncture.
  • https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/si/105721/
• Review on the evidence for CAM in rehabilitation 
  • Burton, Monique S. MD Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Rehabilitation, Current Sports Medicine Reports: August 2019 – Volume 18 – Issue 8 – p 283-284 doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000617

Acupuncture

• Commentary on acupuncture in Sports Medicine
  • Wadsworth, L. Tyler MD Acupuncture in Sports Medicine, Current Sports Medicine Reports: February 2006 – Volume 5 – Issue 1 – p 1-3 doi: 10.1097/01.CSMR.0000306511.94677.fa
• Acupuncture for low back pain review 
  • Liu L, Skinner M, McDonough S, Mabire L, Baxter GD. Acupuncture for low back pain: an overview of systematic reviews. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:328196. doi:10.1155/2015/328196
• Acupuncture for MSK pain meta-analysis 
  • Yuan QL, Wang P, Liu L, et al. Acupuncture for musculoskeletal pain: A meta-analysis and meta-regression of sham-controlled randomized clinical trials. Sci Rep. 2016;6:30675. Published 2016 Jul 29. doi:10.1038/srep30675
• Auricular acupuncture for pain management “Battlefield acupuncture” 
  • Levy, Charles E. MD; Casler, Nicholas BS; FitzGerald, David B. MD Battlefield Acupuncture: An Emerging Method for Easing Pain, American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation: March 2018 – Volume 97 – Issue 3 – p e18-e19 doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000766

Yoga

• Systematic review of yoga for chronic low back pain
  • Chang DG, Holt JA, Sklar M, Groessl EJ. Yoga as a treatment for chronic low back pain: A systematic review of the literature. J Orthop Rheumatol. 2016;3(1):1-8.
• Impact of yoga on flexibility in male athletes
  • Polsgrove MJ, Eggleston BM, Lockyer RJ. Impact of 10-weeks of yoga practice on flexibility and balance of college athletes. Int J Yoga. 2016;9(1):27-34. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.171710
• Podcast episode on benefits of yoga
  • The Benefits of Yoga for Athletes. Dec 2018.

Massage

• Review of evidence for massage after exercise
  • Sriwongtong M, Goldman J, Kobayashi Y, Gottschalk AW. Does Massage Help Athletes After Exercise?. Ochsner J. 2020;20(2):121-122. doi:10.31486/toj.20.0008
• Review of evidence for sports massage
  • Brummitt J. The role of massage in sports performance and rehabilitation: current evidence and future direction. N Am J Sports Phys Ther. 2008;3(1):7-21.
• Systematic review and meta-analysis of sports massage on recovery and performance
  • Davis HL, Alabed S, Chico TJAEffect of sports massage on performance and recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysisBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 2020;6:e000614. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000614
• Massage in paracyclists
  • Kennedy AB, Patil N, Trilk JL. ‘Recover quicker, train harder, and increase flexibility’: massage therapy for elite paracyclists, a mixed-methods study. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2018;4(1):e000319. Published 2018 Jan 26. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000319

Mindfulness Meditation

• Mindfulness could prevent against injury 
  • Naderi A, Shaabani F, Gharayagh Zandi H, Calmeiro L, Brewer BW. The Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Program on the Incidence of Injuries in Young Male Soccer Players. J Sport Exerc Psychol. 2020 Mar 9:1-11. doi: 10.1123/jsep.2019-0003. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32150722.
• Mindfulness for executive function in athletes 
  • Nien JT, Wu CH, Yang KT, et al. Mindfulness Training Enhances Endurance Performance and Executive Functions in Athletes: An Event-Related Potential Study. Neural Plast. 2020;2020:8213710. Published 2020 Aug 28. doi:10.1155/2020/8213710

Supplements/Herbal Medicine

• NIH Fact Sheet for Dietary Supplements for athletic performance
  • https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/ExerciseAndAthleticPerformance-HealthProfessional/
• Consensus statement on dietary supplements in athletes
  • Maughan RJ, Burke LM, Dvorak J, et alIOC consensus statement: dietary supplements and the high-performance athleteBritish Journal of Sports Medicine 2018;52:439-455.
• Riboflavin/B vitamins
  • Effect of exercise on B vitamin
    • Melinda M Manore, Effect of physical activity on thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6 requirements, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 72, Issue 2, August 2000, Pages 598S–606S
• Omega 3s
  • Article summarizing omega-3 fatty acids in relation to athletes
    • Simopoulos, Artemis P. MD Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Athletics, Current Sports Medicine Reports: August 2007 – Volume 6 – Issue 4 – p 230-236 doi: 10.1097/01.CSMR.0000306476.80090.8b
  • Suboptimal optimal omega-3 intake in NCAA athletes
    • Ritz PP, Rogers MB, Zabinsky JS, Hedrick VE, Rockwell JA, et al. (2020) Dietary and Biological Assessment of the Omega-3 Status of Collegiate Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. PLOS ONE 15(4): e0228834.
• Creatine
  • 2012 update on creatinine use in sports performance
    • Cooper R, Naclerio F, Allgrove J, Jimenez A. Creatine supplementation with specific view to exercise/sports performance: an update. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2012;9(1):33. Published 2012 Jul 20. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-9-33
  • Article on creatinine use in sports
    • Butts J, Jacobs B, Silvis M. Creatine Use in Sports. Sports Health. 2018;10(1):31-34. doi:10.1177/1941738117737248
  • Common questions/misconceptions about creatine
    • Antonio, J., Candow, D.G., Forbes, S.C. et al. Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 18, 13 (2021). 
  • Basic overview of creatinine 
    • Hall, Matthew DO; Trojian, Thomas H. MD, FACSM Creatine Supplementation, Current Sports Medicine Reports: July/August 2013 – Volume 12 – Issue 4 – p 240-244 doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e31829cdff2
• Herbal supplements
  • Review of herbal medicine for sports
    • Sellami, M., Slimeni, O., Pokrywka, A. et al. Herbal medicine for sports: a review. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 15, 14 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0218-y
  • Short paper on herb use in sports/exercise
    • Chen CK, Muhamad AS, Ooi FK. Herbs in exercise and sports. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012;31(1):4. Published 2012 Mar 8. doi:10.1186/1880-6805-31-4
  • Traditional Chinese medicine – effect on blood profile in athletes
    • Chang WC, Wang CY, Liu WY, Tsai CC, Wu YT, Hsu MC. Chinese Herbal Medicine Significantly Impacts the Haematological Variables of the Athlete Biological Passport. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(18):9533. Published 2021 Sep 10. doi:10.3390/ijerph18189533

Spinal Manipulation

• Spinal manipulation in sports medicine
  • Haldeman S. Spinal manipulative therapy in sports medicine. Clin Sports Med. 1986 Apr;5(2):277-93. PMID: 2937554.
• Spinal manipulation therapy on effects on static/dynamic tests, asymptomatic athletes
  • Alvarenga BAP, Fujikawa R, João F, Lara JPR, Veloso AP. The effects of a single session of lumbar spinal manipulative therapy in terms of physical performance test symmetry in asymptomatic athletes: a single-blinded, randomised controlled study. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2018 Nov 28;4(1):e000389. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000389. PMID: 30555714; PMCID: PMC6267303.
• Spinal manipulation therapy on bilateral asymmetry in asymptomatic athletes
  • Alvarenga B, Botelho M, Lara J, João F, Veloso A. Preliminary Feasibility Study to Measure the Immediate Changes of Bilateral Asymmetry After Lumbar Spinal Manipulative Therapy in Asymptomatic Athletes. J Chiropr Med. 2019 Sep;18(3):205-212. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2019.08.003. Epub 2020 Aug 21. PMID: 32874160; PMCID: PMC7452195.
• Systematic review on spinal manipulation therapy on sports performance
  • Botelho MB, Alvarenga BAP, Molina N, Ribas M, Baptista AF. Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Sports Performance Enhancement: A Systematic Review. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2017 Sep;40(7):535-543. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.03.014. PMID: 29191288.
• Pre-competition spinal manipulative therapy on football players
  • Brolinson PG, Smolka M, Rogers M, Sukpraprut S, Goforth MW, Tilley G, Doolan KP. Precompetition manipulative treatment and performance among Virginia Tech athletes during 2 consecutive football seasons: a preliminary, retrospective report. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2012 Sep;112(9):607-15. PMID: 22984234.
• Spinal manipulation effect on taekwondo athletes
  • Christiansen TL, Niazi IK, Holt K, Nedergaard RW, Duehr J, Allen K, Marshall P, Türker KS, Hartvigsen J, Haavik H. The effects of a single session of spinal manipulation on strength and cortical drive in athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2018 Apr;118(4):737-749. doi: 10.1007/s00421-018-3799-x. Epub 2018 Jan 11. PMID: 29327170; PMCID: PMC5843672.

Tai Chi

• Short article on tai chi background
  • Lan C, Wolf SL, Tsang WW. Tai chi exercise in medicine and health promotion. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:298768. doi:10.1155/2013/298768
• Benefits of tai chi on health
  • Li JX, Hong Y, Chan KMTai chi: physiological characteristics and beneficial effects on healthBritish Journal of Sports Medicine 2001;35:148-156.
• Tai chi vs physical therapy for osteoarthritis
  • Wang C, Schmid CH, Iversen MD, Harvey WF, Fielding RA, Driban JB, Price LL, Wong JB, Reid KF, Rones R, McAlindon T. Comparative Effectiveness of Tai Chi Versus Physical Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Trial. Ann Intern Med. 2016 Jul 19;165(2):77-86. doi: 10.7326/M15-2143. Epub 2016 May 17. PMID: 27183035; PMCID: PMC4960454.
• Exercise for osteoarthritis
  • Bennell KL, Hinman RS. A review of the clinical evidence for exercise in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. J Sci Med Sport. 2011 Jan;14(1):4-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2010.08.002. Epub 2010 Sep 17. PMID: 20851051.
• Tai chi for preventing falls
  • Huang ZG, Feng YH, Li YH, Lv CS. Systematic review and meta-analysis: Tai Chi for preventing falls in older adults. BMJ Open. 2017 Feb 6;7(2):e013661. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013661. PMID: 28167744; PMCID: PMC5293999.

Biofeedback

• Biofeedback on athlete performance
  • Shokri A, Nosratabadi M. Comparison of Biofeedback and Combined Interventions on Athlete’s Performance. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2021 Sep;46(3):227-234. doi: 10.1007/s10484-020-09498-5. Epub 2021 Jan 1. PMID: 33386459.
• Heart rate biofeedback on sport performance
  • Jiménez Morgan S, Molina Mora JA. Effect of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on Sport Performance, a Systematic Review. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2017 Sep;42(3):235-245. doi: 10.1007/s10484-017-9364-2. PMID: 28573597.
• Gait biofeedback on ankle instability
  • Koldenhoven RM, Jaffri AH, DeJong AF, Abel M, Hart J, Saliba S, Hertel J. Gait biofeedback and impairment-based rehabilitation for chronic ankle instability. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2021 Jan;31(1):193-204. doi: 10.1111/sms.13823. Epub 2020 Sep 27. PMID: 32939858.
• Biofeedback on boxing jab
  • Chen MA, Spanton K, van Schaik P, Spears I, Eaves D. The Effects of Biofeedback on Performance and Technique of the Boxing Jab. Percept Mot Skills. 2021 Aug;128(4):1607-1622. doi: 10.1177/00315125211013251. Epub 2021 May 3. PMID: 33940988; PMCID: PMC8267084.
• Review of evidence for biofeedback on gait retraining
  • van Gelder LMA, Barnes A, Wheat JS, Heller BW. The use of biofeedback for gait retraining: A mapping review. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2018 Nov;59:159-166. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2018.09.020. Epub 2018 Sep 20. PMID: 30253260.
• Biofeedback on rowing
  • Gorman AJ, Willmott AP, Mullineaux DR. The effects of concurrent biomechanical biofeedback on rowing performance at different stroke rates. J Sports Sci. 2021 Dec;39(23):2716-2726. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2021.1954349. Epub 2021 Jul 18. PMID: 34278942.

Hypnosis

• Article describing sports hypnosis
  • Unestahl LE. Alert, Eyes-Open Sport Hypnosis. Am J Clin Hypn. 2018 Oct;61(2):159-172. doi: 10.1080/00029157.2018.1491387. PMID: 30260306.
• Article describing use of hypnosis, imagery to enhance sports performance, case studies
  • Newmark TS, Bogacki DF. The use of relaxation, hypnosis, and imagery in sport psychiatry. Clin Sports Med. 2005 Oct;24(4):973-7, xi. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2005.06.003. PMID: 16169457.
• Hypnosis use in soccer
  • Barker J, Jones M, Greenlees I. Assessing the immediate and maintained effects of hypnosis on self-efficacy and soccer wall-volley performance. J Sport Exerc Psychol. 2010 Apr;32(2):243-52. doi: 10.1123/jsep.32.2.243. PMID: 20479480.

Botanicals (marijuana)

• Cannabis-based therapeutics in sports medicine
  • Maurer GE, Mathews NM, Schleich KT, Slayman TG, Marcussen BL. Understanding Cannabis-Based Therapeutics in Sports Medicine. Sports Health. 2020 Nov/Dec;12(6):540-546. doi: 10.1177/1941738120956604. Epub 2020 Sep 16. PMID: 32936058; PMCID: PMC7785900.
• Systematic review on cannabis use and sports performance
  • Kennedy MC. Cannabis: Exercise performance and sport. A systematic review. J Sci Med Sport. 2017 Sep;20(9):825-829. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.03.012. Epub 2017 Mar 21. PMID: 28392338.

Reiki

• Small study on effect of reiki on back pain compared to physiotherapy and medication – not specific to athletes
  • Jahantiqh F, Abdollahimohammad A, Firouzkouhi M, Ebrahiminejad V. Effects of Reiki Versus Physiotherapy on Relieving Lower Back Pain and Improving Activities Daily Living of Patients With Intervertebral Disc Hernia. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2018;23:2515690X18762745. doi:10.1177/2515690X18762745

• Mindfulness
  • Headspace
  • Be Calm
  • SBT

• Last Updated
• Contributors (Summer 2022)
  • Sydney Asselstine
  • Sydnie Vo MD, Family Medicine, UCLA