Acupuncture for Athletes
With the
commencement of the 2008 Summer Olympics, we wanted to dedicate this
newsletter to athletes and discuss the many ways that Oriental medicine is
used to prevent and assist with the healing of injuries as well as enhance
athletic performance.
All athletes and coaches are involved in a constant search for ways to
improve performance and gain a competitive edge over their rivals. Many are
finding that acupuncture can often provide that edge.
By following the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an
acupuncture treatment can strengthen body function and restore internal
harmony and balance. Professional sports teams and top athletes regularly have
an acupuncturist on staff to treat injuries and to keep them performing at
their peak.
Some of the best Olympic athletes are incorporating acupuncture into their
wellness programs. China's most popular sportsman, the 7 foot 6 inch China
basketball center, Yao Ming, used acupuncture and Oriental medicine to help
him recover after undergoing surgery on his ankle this April.
Chinese swimmer, Wang Qun, was photographed last week doing some last
minute training in Beijing with round marks on her back from an acupuncture
and traditional Chinese medicine treatment. The marks on the swimmers back
were caused by cupping. Cupping is a technique in which a glass cup
or bamboo jar is suctioned onto the body. It is used to relieve muscle
pain, especially back pain from stiffness or injury; and to clear
congestion in the chest, which can occur with common colds and influenza.
Studies on Acupuncture to Enhance Athletic Performance
Studies have shown that acupuncture has measurable effects on the flow of
blood to certain areas of the body, which could in turn boost athletic
performance. One such study conducted at the Beijing University of
Traditional Chinese Medicine involved athletes running 5,000 meters,
and afterwards sitting for acupuncture treatments before they had a chance
to catch their breath. The heart rates of the athletes who received the
treatments recovered more quickly than those in the control group.
Another study published in the American Journal of Acupuncture
measured the effects of acupuncture on anaerobic threshold and work
capacity during exercise in healthy young males. Researchers found that
individuals in the acupuncture treatment group had higher maximal exercise
capacity and were able to perform higher workloads at the onset of blood
lactate accumulation (OBLA) than individuals in the placebo group. The
individuals that received acupuncture also had lower heart rates.
Acupuncture for Injury and Rehabilitation
Acupuncture is
well known for its effectiveness in reducing most types of pain, including
sports-related injuries.
Acupuncture can be used to help decrease swelling, spasms and inflammation.
Additionally, it can be used to control pain, increase range of motion and
help promote healing. Because of its broad range of applications,
acupuncture can be used during any of the phases of injury. The focus is
not only to treat the injury but also to treat any underlying conditions
that may predispose an individual to injuries. This is especially important
when treating chronic or recurrent injuries that interfere with life
activities or athletic performance.
Injuries occurring from sports are mostly due to trauma or overuse
syndromes involving the musculoskeletal system and its soft tissues. Trauma
to these soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons and muscles are
generally the result from falls, blows, sprains/strains, collisions,
compressions crushing and disruptions of the healing processes due to
inflammation.
Some Commonly Treated Sports Injuries:
If you have suffered an injury, want to avoid surgery, or would like to
speed your post surgical recovery, acupuncture can help. Please call us for
more information or to schedule an appointment today.
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In This Issue
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Acupuncture
for Athletes
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Acupuncture
for Injury and Rehabilitation
·
Herbal
Medicine for Athletes
Herbal Medicine for Athletes
Herbal medicine is
often an important aspect in the treatment of injury prevention and
improved athletic performance.
Siberian Ginseng (Eleutheroccocus senticosus) has a wide
range of health benefits attributed to its use including, helping the body
find balance and adapt to stresses, increasing endurance, supporting the
immune system, reducing inflammation, and promoting improved cognitive and
physical performance. It is anti-inflammatory, immunogenic and
chemoprotective in nature and is gentle enough to use on a regular basis..
It has been shown in studies to enhance athletic performance in all but the
most elite athletes.
Cordyceps (C. sinensis) is also a very safe and gentle tonic.
It is a very unusual herb, as it is a fungus that grows on caterpillars. In
Traditional Chinese Medicine it is considered to be a lung tonic and has a
long history of use in asthma treatment due to its effects of improving
"the breath" and decreasing inflammation. Cordyceps has been
shown to enhance the immune system, relax spasms of the heart, bronchi and
intestines, improve sexual function, and invigorate energy levels while
keeping one relaxed. Cordyceps is often for people with exercise-induced
asthma and those with weakness of lung function.
Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) is a fundamental herb for improving
energy levels in general and for sports performance in particular; it is
one of the best known herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been
shown to shorten the latency period of and strengthen conditioned reflexes,
speed transmission of nerve impulses, promote relaxation while restoring
alertness, dilate coronary arteries and sustain proper cardiac rhythm,
increase synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids, help maintain adequate
blood sugar levels, and support adrenal, spleen, thyroid and thymus
function. Panax Ginseng should only be taken for a limited amount of time
to avoid overuse of this powerful and important herb.
* The improper use of herbal medicine can be dangerous. Please always
consult with your practitioner before taking any herbal products.
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