Acupuncture is the use of small, disposable, and sterilized needles, inserted through the skin’s surface to a specific depth, depending on the injury. Acupuncture is an effective form of treatment for pain release, inflammation reduction, and untightening of muscle knots, among others. This treatment has been in practice for centuries and traces its roots to traditional Chinese medicine.
Benefits of acupuncture therapy for sports injuries
Given the wide-ranging benefits of acupuncture, it is being increasingly adopted by athletes to improve their performance and reduce recovery times.
What are the two types of sports injuries and how acupuncture can help in treating them?
When the injury results from a single application of force, it is called an acute traumatic injury. On the other hand, if the injury occurs over a period, it is called chronic or overuse injury. Chronic injuries may result from running, repetitive training, serving a ball in tennis, or overhand throwing. Sports injuries are mostly accompanied by sprain and strain of the joint and the adjoining tissues. Which lead to pain and inflammation of the injured parts.
Following are the ways in which acupuncture can help:
By reducing pain
Acupuncture reduces pain by secreting endorphins in the body, which are natural painkillers. It is, therefore, highly effective for athletes since there are no medicines involved. Plus, acupuncture has almost none to minimal side effects as opposed to drugs, which can have detrimental effects on an athlete’s performance. Furthermore, the ever evolving doping regulations make it even harder for athletes to consume medicines as there are strict guidelines on what can and cannot be used.
By releasing trigger points
Acupuncture can be particularly helpful in releasing trigger points or muscle knots. Which often result from repetitive activity, concentric, or eccentric exercises, and associated pain. Trigger point development is often accompanied by sudden onset of pain and a loss of limb movement. Trigger point acupuncture is used to release muscle spasms. This is a much softer approach to an acute condition, which can otherwise aggravate with too much massage.
By reducing inflammation
Tendinopathies are chronic injuries accounting for almost half of all the sports injuries which can prevent athletes from training due to the persistent pain. Eccentric loading, which is regarded as the most effective form of treatment for this condition is avoided by athletes due to the ongoing pain. In such a scenario, acupuncture can come in handy as it helps in reducing pain, allowing the athletes to resume eccentric loading of the tendons.
By helping recover faster
Aside from relieving pain, acupuncture can also help in improving blood circulation, sleep, energy levels, and reducing muscle fatigue which are essential in the path to recovery.
Dry needling
During a dry needling therapy, a trained practitioner will penetrate thin needles into the skin to treat underlying muscular trigger points. It is useful for athletes nursing muscle injuries.
Microcurrent therapy treatments
It involves the application of frequency driven electrical currents to affected parts of the body that helps in the following:
- Healing injured tissue faster
- Providing relief from pain triggered by injuries or chronic conditions
Acupuncture offers a great alternative to medication in the treatment of sports injuries.
Contact Urban Acupuncture Center in Columbus, OH For More Information
For more information about how acupuncture, massage therapy and other alternative healing treatments can help you, please contact the Urban Acupuncture Center Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist’s team at Indianola Ave, Columbus, Ohio (Clintonville) (614) 725-2488 or click here. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.