Acupuncture: An Effective Treatment for Sports Injuries
If you are an athlete, it’s probably more than safe to say that you’ve certainly had your fair share of injuries while playing sports or training. While ignoring minor injuries and hoping for the best may sound like a reasonable idea (after all, your body will heal eventually, right?), sports injuries can actually get worse over time – especially if the affected muscles, joints or tendons are repeatedly used in the fashion in which they were injured.
With that being said, it’s crucial to address healing right away. Have you ever considered a Holistic approach? Or acupuncture, for that matter? Acupuncture can aid the body in the recovery process and speed healing time for those dealing with a sports injury. Not quite sure how? No worries. Our team has put together an overview of just how effective acupuncture can be for sports related injuries. Check them out below.
About Acupuncture
Acupuncture originated around 6000 BCE in China, and the first acupuncture “needles” were actually sharp rocks or bones! Needless to say, it has come a long way since those times, but originally, it was thought to change the way energy, or qi, flowed through the body’s channels.
Over the last few thousand years, both the theory and methodology of acupuncture has evolved into what we know it as today: Thin needles are inserted into acupuncture points in various spots on the human body to relieve pain, balance hormones and treat both chronic and acute issues and illnesses.
Common Sports-Related Injuries
Sports injuries can occur when an athlete does not warm up properly, but they are often accidental and brought on by no fault of the athlete. Though the injury can’t be magically reversed, there is a lot that can be done to fix the problem and get the athlete back into working shape before his or her next game, match or meet. Common sports-related injuries often include:
- ACL tears and other knee injuries
- Sprained ankles
- Hamstring strain
- Achilles tendon sprain or tear
- Tennis elbow
How Acupuncture Can Help
You might be unaware that acupuncture can be used to remedy the pain of acute injuries as well. It’s often combined with chiropractic care and physical therapy to help athletes heal as quickly as possible and get back to their sport of choice.
When thin acupuncture needles are inserted just under the patient’s skin, blood will flush the area and bring healing nutrients and oxygen to the injury. This new blood helps the injury to heal faster than it would have on its own.
It may be tempting to get back to training as soon as possible, but for all types of athletes — from runners and dancers, to professional basketball players — it is imperative to rest and treat your injury before it becomes a bigger problem that requires a lengthy period of time off from your hobby or career.
Finding The Right Acupuncture Professionals Is Key
As much as acupuncture can help an athlete get back into the swing of things, it’s even more important to find the right professionals to do it. Holistic Vitality Center offers quality, professional healthcare services that promote and maximize good health.
Contact Holistic Vitality Center online, or call our team directly at (919) 848-3333 for a personalized evaluation and to learn more about how acupuncture can help you return to the sport you love.