Sports injuries are most common in athletes who play sports at the professional or collegiate level as these individuals consistently utilize their bodies to provide athletic results. However, sports injuries can occur to people who also participate in recreational sports. So, sports injuries don’t discriminate – but, they can lead to long-lasting pain and discomfort if not treated accordingly. Acupuncture is a commonly utilized treatment for the pain, movement restriction, and swelling of an injured body part. It can help to reduce symptoms of a sports injury so that individuals can get back on the court, field, or rink sooner.
There are two types of sports injuries – acute and chronic. Acute injuries are injuries that occur suddenly in a traumatic fashion, like a broken bone due to a fall or a sprained ankle due to force from a ball or other training object. Chronic injuries are injuries that occur over time due to improper movement during training, neglecting the use of protective equipment during workouts, and repetitive motions. Both types of sports injuries, both acute and chronic, can come with similar characteristics of swelling, inflammation, weakness, discoloration, and pain.
The most common sports injuries are:
Overuse and repetitive stress problems associated with sports include:
Acupuncture has long since been a therapy used in helping athletes. Professional and collegiate teams will often offer acupuncture therapy for their athletes or even hire acupuncture specialists to have on staff. This is because acupuncture is known to help athletes in many ways. Firstly, acupuncture can help to balance the body – helping to prevent injury to people who may be at a higher risk of injury, like athletes. Secondly, acupuncture can help athletes after they’ve been hurt to manage pain. And, finally, acupuncture can help to stimulate the immune system, allowing for faster healing and speedier recovery times for athletes who have sustained injuries.
If you’re an athlete who wants to prevent a sports injury or who has already sustained an injury and are wanting to get back on your feet as quickly as possible, acupuncture may be something to consider. Acupuncture is non-invasive and doesn’t come with any side effects, which differs from traditional treatments like medications and surgical procedures. Acupuncture is also best effective when used in combination with other techniques like physical therapy. So, if you’re wanting to boost the success of things you’re already doing to take care of your body, acupuncture may be right for you.
