JINCHEON, South Korea (Reuters) - South Korean athletes looking to stay in peak shape for the London Olympics are turning to Oriental rather than Western medicine to see off aches and sprains that could derail their medal chances.

While some athletes remain wary of remedies that are not certified due to doping concerns, for the vast majority regular treatment has boosted fitness and the ability to overcome injury quickly.

"I have had lots of physical therapy, which takes a long time to effect a cure, but Oriental therapy works faster. My pain halved after a day," Kim Yeon-koung from the Korean women's volleyball team told Reuters.

"I used to dislike it (acupuncture) due to the pain. Now I receive therapy regularly even if I am not hurt as my body has experienced benefits which I think boost my performance," said Kim, grimacing in pain while receiving acupuncture at a gym in Jincheon, 150 kilometres south of Seoul.

Park Jung-geu from the men's handball team said oriental medicine helped his muscles relax quickly.

"I can tell that I am getting better after being treated about three times, while physical therapy requires long, consistent treatment," he said.

Shin Joon-shik, chairman of a major traditional Korean hospital in Seoul, has treated high profile athletes such as football player Park Ji-sung, figure skating gold medallist Kim Yuna, baseball player Choo Shin-soo and golfer Paul Casey.

He said Korean traditional medicine helps to treat sprains and muscle injuries.

"Traditional Chinese medicines are more effective for chronic diseases while Korean medicines are for acute illness," he said.

Official data showed the number of oriental medicine clinics surged 32 percent to 12,292 in 2011 from 2004.

More:

South Koreans athletes bet on traditional medicine