medicine, exercise and massage are also integral treatment mo- dalities within this system: Acupuncture is used to stimulate points on the body that in- creases micro-circulation, thus increasing blood to the tissues that are injured, promoting rapid healing of injuries—acute and chronic. It is also used to enhance endurance, and promote mental and emotional well- being, inner calm and strength.
Diet & Nutrition properly fuels the body.
Herbal Medicine naturally eliminates pain, reduces inflamma- tion and enhances the immune system—safely, effectively and legally. There are also magnificent liniments that are used ex- ternally.
Exercise to increase muscle strength & joint mobility. Massage to enhance tissue healing.
What to Expect when Visiting an Acupuncturist When an athlete or anyone, for that matter, comes in for acupuncture, an individual treatment plan is developed based on an extensive diagnostic process that includes a health history, current physical condition, constitutional strengths and deficien- cies, injuries-acute and chronic, surgeries, emotional wellbeing, diet, palpation and muscle testing. Sports Acupuncturists under- stand that many athletes already have a team of professionals working with them—coaches, parents, trainers, nutritionists, physical therapists, etc. Acupuncture can be used with other modalities and become part of an athlete’s team. The use of other OM modalities would be at the discretion of the athlete and training team.
Acupuncturists use sterilized disposable needles that are
literally hair thin. When treating an area of injury, acupuncture needles will be placed in acupuncture and trigger points near and sometimes directly on the site of injury depending on the type of injury. Acupuncture techniques will decrease inflamma- tion, reduce swelling, minimize bruising, relax muscles, relieve muscle spasms, increase range of motion, calm nerves, and re- duce or eliminate pain. Acupuncture has been known to heal injuries faster, a welcomed relief for athletes. The acupuncturist may also place needles in areas that are not near the sight of injury but are points that are very effective in treating joints, tendons, muscles, bone and nerves. People often experience a sense of well being after a treatment, again proving to be advan- tageous to an athlete traumatized by an injury that could affect their performance.
Injuries In athletics, injuries may occur as the body is pushed beyond
its physical limits. Injuries can start as seemingly minor aches and pains, such as that nagging tug on the back of your heel, that spot between your shoulders, that hip or back pain that won’t go away or the quadricep that feels weak during your workout. All of these are signals of injuries that are not debilitating, yet, and are often ignored. “Oh, it will go away.” Then one day the an- noying tolerable pain catches you off guard and is now keeping you from your daily activities and athletic endeavors. What started out as a minor ache or pain can lead to a more serious injury that could take a very long time to heal! And for the seri-
Natural Triad Magazine
ous athlete, and the person trying to get into the best shape ever, this could lead to a serious set back. This probably could have been avoided if that pain, a warning signal, was treated at the first sign by acupuncture.
Prevention The origin of acupuncture is based on the preventive ap-
proach to health care. Acupuncture can immediately address any concerns of musculo-skeletal issues, tendons or nerves, thus preventing further injury; keep an athlete mentally and emotion- ally balanced and focused; help maintain peak performance during training; and help maximize one’s immune system. Let’s face it, when it comes to maintenance, we often take better care of our cars than we do our bodies!
Pre-Performance There are techniques used for pre-performance as well. Many athletes visit their sports acupuncturist prior to an event or com- petition because they have noted the benefits of balance, endur- ance and optimal performance from Oriental Medicine. “One technique is to directly treat the muscles of the upper and lower extremities-like flipping a switch to get them temporarily stronger and quicker,” according to Whitfield Reaves, OMD, Sports Acu- puncturist and author of The Acupuncture Handbook of Sports Injuries and Pain. Another system used is auricular (ear) therapy. The ear is a micro-system of the body. There are points located on ear that are associated to specific areas of the body. Small sterilized ‘ear tacks’ are retained in these ear points during the athlete’s performance; this can give the athlete that push or calm needed to complete their event. FYI, auricular therapy is a system used in government programs for drug and alcohol addictions
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www.bodyandsoultotalwellnesspllc.com JUNE 2011
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