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All athletes and coaches are involved in a constant search for ways to
improve performance and gain a competitive edge over their rivals. Many
are finding that acupuncture can often provide that edge.
By following the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an
acupuncture treatment can strengthen body function and restore internal
harmony and balance. Professional sports teams and top athletes
regularly have an acupuncturist on staff to treat injuries and to keep
them performing at their peak.
Some of the best Olympic athletes are incorporating acupuncture into
their wellness programs. China's most popular sportsman, the 7 foot 6
inch China basketball center, Yao Ming, used acupuncture and Oriental
medicine to help him recover after undergoing surgery on his ankle in April, 2007.
Chinese swimmer, Wang Qun, was photographed doing some last
minute training in Beijing with round marks on her back from an
acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine treatment. The marks on
the swimmers back were caused by cupping.
Cupping is a technique in which a glass cup or bamboo jar is suctioned
onto the body. It is used to relieve muscle pain, especially back pain
from stiffness or injury; and to clear congestion in the chest, which
can occur with common colds and influenza.
Studies on Acupuncture to Enhance Athletic Performance
Studies have shown that acupuncture has measurable effects on the flow
of blood to certain areas of the body, which could in turn boost
athletic performance. One such study conducted at the Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
involved athletes running 5,000 meters, and then sitting for
acupuncture treatments before they had a chance to catch their breath.
The heart rates of the athletes who received the treatments recovered
more quickly than those in the control group.
Another study published in the American Journal of Acupuncture
measured the effects of acupuncture on anaerobic threshold and work
capacity during exercise in healthy young males. Researchers found that
individuals in the acupuncture treatment group had higher maximal
exercise capacity and were able to perform higher workloads at the
onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) than individuals in the
placebo group. The individuals that received acupuncture also had lower
heart rates.
A recent study published in the January, 2008 issue of the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine examined the effects of acupuncture on cyclists. Twenty young (between 18 and 30 years of age) male cyclists underwent three tests per week, riding a stationary
bike for 20 kilometers as fast as possible. The volunteers were divided into three groups that either received acupuncture, sham acupuncture or no acupuncture. Acupuncture points were chosen on the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine and administered immediately before cycling. Sham acupuncture was shallow needling of known acupoints.
Not only did the study show that the group that received acupuncture had a higher
RPE scores compared to the other tests. The men receiving the real
acupuncture treatments completed their cycling tests at a higher
acceleration than the others.
Acupuncture is well known for its effectiveness in reducing most types of pain, including sports-related injuries.
Acupuncture can be used to help decrease swelling, spasms and
inflammation. Additionally, it can be used to control pain, increase
range of motion and help promote healing. Because of its broad range of
applications, acupuncture can be used during any of the phases of
injury. The focus is not only to treat the injury but also to treat any
underlying conditions that may predispose an individual to injuries.
This is especially important when treating chronic or recurrent
injuries that interfere with life activities or athletic performance.
Injuries occurring from sports are mostly 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 from falls, blows, sprains/strains,
collisions, compressions crushing and disruptions of the healing
processes due to inflammation.
Some Commonly Treated Sports Injuries:
- Muscle Pull
- Neck Pain
- Shoulder Impingement
- Tennis Elbow
- Lower Back Strain
- Groin Pull
- Hamstring Strain
- Runner's Knee
- Shin Splints
- Ankle Sprain
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Arch Pain
If you have suffered an injury, want to avoid surgery, or would like
to speed your post surgical recovery, acupuncture can help. Please call
an acupuncturist in your area for more information or to schedule an appointment today.
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