Acupuncture Can Be an Athlete’s Secret Weapon

Already a household term in the United States, acupuncture became even more popular during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing when it was given to the officials and athletes in the Olympic Village. Even when it is being used as a primary mode of treatment by about 33% of the people on the planet and has been practiced for thousands of years, Chinese medicine and acupuncture are relatively new to the Western world where it is mostly used for rehabilitation and the control of pain. Acupuncture is a very helpful tool in aiding an athlete to support the body during training, to help him/her overcome injuries quickly and to enable the athlete to maximize his performance during actual competitions.

A lot of individuals are now turning to acupuncture to address chronic pain, but its capacity to resolve acute trauma is a game changer for an athlete during competition as it can mean being able to participate in the game or sit on the bench with a disabling injury. And instead of being given a shot or taking medications to relieve the pain, acupuncture can provide you with natural, safe and effective pain relief. It stimulates the body to release the body’s own natural painkillers known as endorphins that expedites recovery time boosting the immune system and removing inflammation. The outcomes of acupuncture to ligament and tendon sprains, which are common to athletes in almost all forms of sport, have been very good. One should always take into account that pain is the body’s way of telling us that a problem exists in our body; taking medications only mask the pain and may even worsen the condition; they may even result in permanent damage, on occasions.

One very important part of competition training is recovering from an injury and it is the duty of an athlete to know when it’s time to rest and compete. In the regard we can see how valuable acupuncture can be to an athlete since it can give him/her the best quality of sleep. More often than not, in sports, a good night’s sleep is needed to repair or rebuild the tissues of the muscles and to reenergize your body. Acupuncture can be a way for an athlete to better prepare himself/herself for competition. Regular treatments can make the athlete train much better as acupuncture can boost his/her storage of liver glycogen and build muscle.

Entering competition in completely healthy, injury-free body is crucial to an athlete’s ability to compete maximally. Utilizing acupuncture during training in order to treat sprains, strains, pain and aches can mean the difference between winning and losing. Let’s not forget the emotional and mental aspects of competition that can impact their outcomes of a sporting event. Beyond the severely exhausting physical challenges that competition entails, confidence and inner strength is also essential for an athlete to prevail. Again, acupuncture has the answer to this important aspect of sporting competition since it has the capacity to remove or reduce anxiety and stress, which can help the athlete stay focused and banish psychological barriers, which may hinder him/her from winning.

Acupuncture definitely can help the athlete in so many ways. It can help heal the body more quickly and help him/her prevent injuries. These can result in his/her performing at peak levels. Regardless of what kind of athlete you are, whether you’re an Olympian or not, acupuncture is a very effective, natural and safe way to help you overcome health problems and attain your goals.

 

Christina Prieto is an Orlando acupuncturist, a certified Yoga instructor and the founder of Harmony Wellness center in central Florida.