Acupuncture on Point With Injured Athletes

What do Olympians such as Carl Lewis, Bonnie Blair, Morgan Hamm, and Super Bowl champions James Harrison, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young, all have in common? All have reported enormous benefits from incorporating acupuncture into their regular treatment programs.

Acupuncture has been gaining popularity in its reputation to successfully treat musculoskeletal injuries. Participation in physical activities may stress or damage muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. Numerous Olympic and professional athletes depend on acupuncture as an essential part of their recovery from injuries.

Benefits of Acupuncture include:

• Reduced recovery time
• Decreased pain
• Decreased inflammation
• Reduced swelling
• Reduction of muscle spasms
• Improved blood circulation

Acupuncture is a modality that is part of a healthcare system called Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been established for over five thousand years, and according to the World Health Organization, one quarter of the world's population receives acupuncture on a continual basis.

Acupuncture points are commonly found where motor neurons enter the skeletal muscle. When an acupuncture needle is inserted into these points, neurotransmitters send a message to the central nervous system. This leads to a release of hormones, which decrease inflammation and initiate healing at the intended body areas. A significant advantage that acupuncture has over other medical procedures and drugs used for the same conditions is that the incidence of adverse side effects is substantially lower.

Acupuncture needles are always sterile and packaged to be used only once. They are polished smooth, solid, and scarcely thicker than a hair. The insertion of the needle is usually painless and most patients experience a deep relaxation and often fall asleep during a treatment. The needles are retained between 15 and 45 minutes and significant results are often seen after one to four sessions.

An excellent resource to assist you in locating an acupuncturist in your area is the

National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine .

Michael Kleinert

Michael Kleinert is the owner of Integrative Sports Acupuncture. His private practice is located in Encinitas, California where he specializes in the treatment of musculoskeletal sports injuries.