Abstract
The objective of the study was to explore the status of usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among Korean elite athletes. A survey was emailed to all Korean national sports federations recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia. A total of 705 Korean elite athletes participated in this study. The athletes had to be any of the following to participate in this survey: elite intercollegiate athletes, professional athletes, and national team athletes. 83.3% of the participants stated that they have previously experienced Korean medicine (KM). Compared to the general population in Korea, athletes had more experience (general population = 73.8%). The participants without experience mentioned that they either did not need any KM treatments (39.8%) or lacked information (39.8%) regarding KM treatments. The primary reason for the utilization of KM was the effectiveness of treatments. Therefore, 70.8% of the participants have mentioned recommending KM to others. Generally, athletes are worrisome that the consumption of herbal medicine may not be doping-free; however, it is vital to note that 62% of the participants expressed that prescribed herbal medicine is safe. Overall, this research demonstrates a high prevalence of KM usage by intercollegiate, professional, and national team athletes in Korea. Hence, this study's results may serve as the foundation in future research directions for promoting KM among Korean elite athletes.
Highlights
Bo-Young Youn,1 Seongwan Ju,2 Shinhyoung Joo,2 Hoseok Kang,3 Kiyoung Jeon,4 Chunhoo Cheon,5 Ho-Yeon Go,6 and Seong-Gyu Ko5
A total of 705 Korean elite athletes participated in this study. e athletes had to be any of the following to participate in this survey: elite intercollegiate athletes, professional athletes, and national team athletes. 83.3% of the participants stated that they have previously experienced Korean medicine (KM)
Introduction e use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is continuously growing worldwide. e global CAM market was valued at 55.2 billion dollars in 2018, and it is expected to reach 163.3 billion dollars by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.8% between 2019 and 2025 [1]
Summary
Utilization of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Korean Elite Athletes: Current Status and Future Implications. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine that 56% of the 309 Division 1 university athletes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association had reported receiving CAM therapies [6]; Lee et al indicated that treating and preventing sports injuries for the Korean national volleyball team was effective with various KM modalities [7]. Both professional and recreational athletes informed that the therapies improve or assist athletic performance [8]. The study aimed to analyze the current utilization of KM among Korean elite athletes and find valuable data for future studies
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