Acupuncture for Athletes

The ancient art of acupuncture can be used as treatment for everything from joint pain to headaches, hormonal imbalances to allergies. But, did you know athletes also incorporate it into their wellness programs?  Whether it’s recovery from a sports injury or looking to enhance performance, acupuncture can help.

     It’s said that Tom Brady incorporates TCM, traditional Chinese Medicine, into his wellness routine (according to Sports Illustrated December 2014).  Since then, the TB12 model of wellness has become wildly popular. Whether you’re a professional athlete, student athlete, dancer, golfer, or play sports just for fun, here are some ways acupuncture can help boost your performance.

Quicker recovery time:
By stimulating blood flow through the meridians, recovery time can be shortened through regular acupuncture treatments. Sprains, strains, muscle soreness and tendonitis are alleviated with acupuncture’s ability to decrease inflammation.

Improve flexibility and decrease muscle tension:
By opening up the channel pathways to increase the free flow of energy, acupuncture can deactivate a tight muscle or reactivate an inhibited muscle.  With the addition of Tui na, blockages and imbalances are resolved and performance is enhanced when returning to physical activity.

Pain relief:
Acupuncture has been shown to be highly effective for pain relief. Some studies have shown it to be as effective as medication. Although every condition and patient is different, some people feel a difference right after the session. Some may feel pain relief 20-30 minutes later and it can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. In light of all the side effects of pain medication (opioids being among those with devastating side effects), acupuncture is a good alternative for pain management.