HOW CAN ACUPUNCTURE HELP ATHLETES?
Athletes in all disciplines are now using acupuncture for injury prevention, improved recovery, performance improvement and pain relief. Acupuncture also helps to improve energy and endurance through regulation of the nervous system, as well as assisting in pre-race relaxation and post-race recovery. Along with these benefits are the many other advantages related to staying healthy throughout the long, intensive race season.
 |
 |
|
Ironman Arizona finish, 2009; Leona Divide 50 Mile finish, 2015
|
As a triathlete and ultrarunner, I understand the physical issues that come up during the year as we train for various races: IT band issues, joint pain, muscle strains and sprains, tendinitis and ligament issues, fatigue, back pain, sciatica, and more. Acupuncture has helped me tremendously in dealing with a number of these issues, and in focusing on the treatment of athletes I’ve had tremendous success in helping others get off the sideline and back in the game. This success is rooted in my training as an Acupuncture Orthopedist through the National Board of Acupuncture Orthopedics (NBAO)
HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
Acupuncture meets the needs of the athlete by providing powerfully effective, personalized, non-pharmaceutical and non-surgical care in the areas your body needs it most. Put simply, acupuncture works.
-
Injuries are prevented by promoting neurological and cardiovascular balance and supporting homeostasis;
-
Should an injury arise, acupuncture regulates nerve conduction and microcirculation in the area of inflammation to speed the healing process;
-
Working at the source of the pain, acupuncture decreases inflammation and helps to increase range of motion. It also works to decrease pain by stimulating endogenous opioids, or endorphins, to provide rapid, and often long-lasting, relief. Patients usually feel relief after the first treatment;
-
Energy and endurance issues are addressed by addressing liver and lung function, as well as the digestive system;
-
Post-race acupuncture treatments minimize muscle fatigue and pain, enhance energy, and facilitate rapid recovery. This is especially important for the serious athlete with many races within a relatively short time frame;
-
Athletic enhancement treatments fine-tune your strength, coordination, speed, efficiency, and power. This treatment maximizes your athletic abilities by corralling your energy where you need it most.
Whether as a preventative, a mitigating force or a cure, acupuncture stimulates your internal resources against disability and pain. It is an invaluable regimen, one that manages the body’s built-in arsenal to protect itself. By accessing your own physiological response, acupuncture is the perfect adjunct to athletic training: while being medically effective, it is has no harmful side-effects and can be used regularly for a lifetime. And isn’t that how long you’d like to remain physically active?
Professionals, serious amateurs and weekend warriors alike use acupuncture to both manage and prevent injuries, relieve pain, and regulate the nervous system for optimal physiologic function. Studies conducted by the US National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization and research bodies worldwide have consistently shown that Acupuncture is a safe and effective tool to use in dealing with pain and treating injury all over the body, as well as supporting optimal wellness. Schedule an appointment today to discuss your particular goals and needs–I look forward to being a part of your training team.