Acupuncture for Sports Injuries
Sports injuries can occur at any time, and are often a serious problem for athletes. These injuries can occur for any number of reasons, like improper training, inappropriate (or missing) gear, lack or misuse of safety equipment, or excess of repetitive motions. Acute sports injuries generally involve a single application of force, like being tackled in rugby or twisting an ankle. Chronic sports injuries are primarily the result of overuse of a muscle group or joint, and are common in repetitive training like running. Oftentimes sports injuries involve inflammation and reduced range of motion of the affected area, coupled with soreness and a variety of pain sensations, depending on the type of injury and damage sustained.

Anti-inflammatories, pain relievers, and physical therapy are often prescribed to assist with these types of injuries. However, drugs can have harmful side effects (in addition to the risk of the patient building a tolerance to the medication), and physical therapy is often a lengthy process that takes several weeks to produce any results. Acupuncture, on the other hand, often produces an immediate decrease in pain, and dramatically shortens recovery time i.

Why is Acupuncture So Great for Sports Injuries?
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical practice that involves needling of specific sites around the body, called Acupoints and TrP’s (myofascial trigger points); stimulation of these sites increases blood flow and restores muscle function.Acupuncture helps the release of neurotransmitters like Serotonin

Sports Injury Treatments

(which regulates mood, sleep, and pain levels) as well as Endorphins, Enkephalins, and Dynorphin, which are the body’s natural painkillers. Acupuncture also incites muscle groups to relax and eases tension ii.

In past studies, acupuncture has been shown to decrease inflammation and muscle spasms (a huge component in sports injury-related pain), increase range of motion, and decrease the amount of time it takes a patient to heal from their injury iii. Acupuncture can be used at any phase of the injury, and is safe to use in conjunction with other traditional Western methods of treatment. An additional benefit of acupuncture is that the therapy treats the health of the athlete’s body as a whole, rather than focusing on one injured member. This is ideal for chronic injuries especially, and can encourage improved performance.

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Acupuncture has grown steadily more popular in the sports world, and has even been featured in publications such as Active magazine iv and Men’s Health v for its curative effects. Regular acupuncture therapy can have a preventive effect against future injury, which is a necessity for those who participate in high-repetition activities like running or tennis vi.

In a study conducted by Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture was shown to help decrease heart rate much more quickly in long-distance runners than rest alone. Another study from the American Journal of Acupuncture found that athletes treated with acupuncture (as opposed to those who received a placebo) had a higher exercise capacity and were able to function with greater workloads vii.

If you are an athlete, you may want to look into acupuncture not just to treat any preexisting injuries or conditions that may be inhibiting your performance, but to help prevent any future problems as well. Acupuncture can also address a range of other health issues which can affect your performance such as sleep disturbances, digestive issues, hayfever and depression. Ask your acupuncturist about helping you stay at the top of your game.