If you know me at all, you will know that I am very passionate about sports and living an active, healthy lifestyle. I have experienced a variety of sports injuries – the leading injury to date ended with two knee surgeries. I ruptured my ACL, tore my MCL and medial meniscus – the triple threat as the surgeon called it.
I am fortunate enough to have already found Acupuncture at the point of my knee injury
because I was able to use it in my pre- and post- surgery rehab. My surgeon asked what else I had been doing at my check ups and I explained my use of Acupuncture and he was thrilled! Let me explain why…

There are typically two types of sports injuries. The first type is overuse or chronic – usually the result of repetitive training.

Whether its tight muscles, recovering from a chronic injury or from an acute injury; athletes want to get back out on the court/ice/field/ etc. as soon as possible with a minimal chance of re-injuring yourself. First, lets see how acupuncture can help with tight muscles and overuse injuries.

Tight muscles can really inhibit an athlete’s performance by restricting movement and pain. When a muscle is tight, it is the Trigger points/ motor points that cause the pain. They inhibit range of motion by keeping muscles short and can also weaken the muscle. Not all trigger points are painful, but when you feel that knot in your calf or trap (shoulder area), you’re feeling the motor/trigger point. If it is left long enough, excessive muscle contraction can potentially disarticulate joints or even cause nerve entrapment. Acupuncture is veryeffective when it comes to releasing a trigger point. The needle is inserted directly into that specific area and you will actually feel the muscle jump a lot of the time – it is such a neat and unique feeling! By releasing the tension in the muscle it will allow it to ‘reset’ in a way. Combining Acupuncture and massage is extremely effective when it comes to tight muscles. When you come in for Acupuncture for tight/sore muscles, you will likely experience a muscle release, cupping, guasha, and/or electroacupuncture. Acupuncture helps restore the muscle to its full length therefor recovers its normal function, metabolism and blood supply. Acupuncture can usually achieve immediate results, keep in mind that it is important to continue regular treatments if you have been experiencing muscle pain for an extended period of time. It is important to know that this therapy is so much more than IMS. When you seek a Registered Acupuncturist for muscle tension, I will use trigger points to release the muscle but also Acupuncture points to help your body recover faster.

Overuse injuries occur over a period of time or from not taking care of an immediate injury, they can be linked to tight muscles as well. Typically the pain with a chronic injury is described as a deep, dull ache or numbness and tingling.

The second type of sports injury is an acute traumatic injury. These are the sprains, strains, etc. that usually initiate an inflammatory response and have a more intense pain than overuse injuries. Many professional sports teams have Acupuncturists on staff for this very reason. Acupuncture helps reduce the pain and inflammation as well as improving movement to help you move closer to your goal of playing again.

Acupuncture effectively treats sports injuries literally from head to toe. Recent studies have shown that it can also improve performance and give athletes a competitive edge.

@chadbauman

If you have any questions at all please don’t hesitate to ask, I would love to help you get back out playing your sport as soon as possible!