Norwegian ski star Johannes Kläbo has disclosed in a documentary that he uses acupuncture as a secret weapon in competitions, surprising Finnish athletes and coaches who have not used this method.
In a revealing documentary, Norwegian skiing sensation Johannes Kläbo shared that he uses acupuncture as a secret weapon during competitions, including the World Championships in Trondheim. This revelation took Finnish athletes Niko Anttola, Arsi Ruuskanen, and Ristomatti Hakola by surprise, as none of them have ever utilized such treatment methods. Kläbo's admission sparked discussions regarding the acceptability and effectiveness of acupuncture in the world of competitive skiing, where traditional recovery methods are favored.
Finnish head coach Teemu Pasanen confirmed that to his knowledge, no Finnish skier has yet resorted to acupuncture during their recovery efforts. This statement underscores a potential divide in treatment approaches between athletes from different countries. While some skiers might rely on conventional methods to manage pain and recovery, Kläbo’s reliance on acupuncture highlights a willingness to explore alternative therapies, which are often met with skepticism in the medical field.
Acupuncture, while regarded by some as pseudoscience, has shown benefits for certain pain issues in clinical studies. Kläbo claims that once the pain subsided, he felt ready to compete. His approach and its subsequent discussion may prompt further consideration of acupuncture within the competitive skiing community and could lead to more widespread acceptance of alternative therapies among elite athletes.
