Acupuncture for Athletes/Sport Injuries
Over 40 years of practicing acupuncture and Chinese medicine, Dr. Kong has treated multiple athletes and weekend warriors with injuries, such as sustained acute strains and sprains, acute and chronic arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, excessive fatigue, joints and musculoskeletal pain etc. Most of patients returned to exercise in almost half the time it normally takes. In addition, a 2008 study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that participants who were jabbed for muscle soreness 24 and 48 hours after they exercised to exhaustion reported significantly less pain than people who didn’t receive the treatment.
How does acupuncture work for athletes/sport injuries?
Recent research by the Academy of Sports Medicine suggests people may have over-treated injury with excessive use of anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen even steroid injections. These have serious potential side effects, such as ulcers, internal bleeding and kidney dysfunction and possible tendon rupture. It also brings us more concern is that in trying to reduce swelling, but may actually impede the bodies’ natural response to heal.
Acupuncture helps facilitate injury repair and wound healing by accessing energy pathways called meridians. The applying of the acupuncture needles on these pathways improves energy flow, increasing the flow of oxygenated blood to the injured area which helps speed the healing process.
Acupuncture is also a great treatment for chronic musculoskeletal issues like tendonitis, bursitis and arthritis by improving energy flow over these inflamed regions. With acupuncture, healing is facilitated without a medication which makes it a “natural” remedy.
Acupuncture can also be useful for energy replacement by reinvigorate Qi and help with excessive fatigue. As every athlete knows, it is imperative to have as much as possible to reach your peak performance and get you back in the game and keep you there.
Course of treatment
There are 10-15 acupuncture sessions in one course of treatment. Treatment frequency depends on individual condition. Chinese herbs work synergistically with acupuncture.
For more information please contact Dr. Shan Kong at Acupuncture and Chinese Medical Center Ann Arbor, Michigan at (734) 276-3432.