Summer is the time for athletes. In fact, the Water to Wine Half Marathon from Lake Sonoma to Alderbrook Winery in Healdsburg, takes place this weekend. For many athletes and coaches, acupuncture can help improve performance and gain a competitive edge, in addition to treating injuries.
By following the principles of traditional Oriental medicine, an acupuncture treatment can strengthen body function, and restore internal harmony and balance. Professional sports teams and top athletes often have an acupuncturist on staff to treat injuries and keep them performing at their peak. Studies have shown that acupuncture has measurable effects on the flow of blood to certain areas of the body, which in turn, boost athletic performance.
Some of the best Olympic athletes incorporate acupuncture into their wellness programs. China's most popular sportsman, the 7’ 6” basketball center, Yao Ming, used acupuncture and Oriental medicine to help him recover from ankle surgery.
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Sports injuries are primarily due to trauma or overuse syndromes involving the musculoskeletal system and its soft tissues. Trauma to these soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons and muscles are generally the result of falls, blows, sprains/strains, collisions, compressions, crushing, and disruptions of the healing processes due to inflammation.
Acupuncture is commonly used to treat pulled muscles, neck pain, shoulder impingement, tennis elbow, lower back strain, pulled groin, hamstring strain, runner’s knee, shin splints, ankle sprain, tendonitis, and arch pain.
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Acupuncture can be used to help decrease swelling, spasms, and inflammation; manage pain; increase range of motion; and healing. The focus is not just to treat the injury, but any underlying conditions that may predispose an individual to injuries. This is important when treating chronic or recurrent injuries that interfere with life activities or athletic performance.
I have helped people heal much faster than expected when employing these techniques. Whether your injury is three days or three months old or longer, my treatments can be very effective.
