Acupuncture for Sports Injuries
By Dr. Louis Jin - The Woodlands Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic Athletes, no matter their ability level or age, may experience an injury or strain from time to time. Medical conditions that arise as a result of sports and athletics can be difficult and/or time consuming to treat. As one article points out, “…treating sports medicine conditions with medications can be limited by significant side-effects.”
In an interview with Medill Reports, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo said, “You’re just always trying to get on the field as soon as possible. So, you’re in an ‘I’m doing whatever I can to feel better’ state of mind.”
Many athletes feel the same way. Whether you’re a weekend warrior, a middle school team player, or a professional, sports injuries can inhibit your ability to perform your best. If left untreated, or if treated improperly, a minor injury can become a problem that prohibits you from the activities you love.
Acupuncture can offer relief from myriad sports injuries, and could even prevent some. Athletes of every caliber have turned to acupuncture as a form of regular treatment and research supports their decision. Whether they have an injury they need to be seen for, are prepping for an event, or want some aid in the recovery phase afterward, acupuncture could help bring you back to peak performance.
One article from UW Health states that many professional athletes, such as Prince Fielder, Gabe Kapler, Josh Hader, Aaron Rodgers, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Najah Davenport, Jeff Hornacek, Kevin Johnson, John Mcglocklin, Steve Nash, Bonnie Blair, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, James Harrison, Montre Hartage, etc use traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture as a part of their regular routine. Others simply want to focus on rehabilitating old injuries, like a troublesome knee or an old ACL injury, prior to a weekend race or just to keep going to pick-up games at the local gym.
A systematic review of studies conducted on acupuncture for ankle sprains found that, “Acupuncture as an add-on treatment also improved global symptoms compared with other treatments…” and added, “Acupuncture was more effective than various controls in relieving pain, facilitating return to normal activity, and promoting quality of life,” before advocating for additional research into the topic.
Another review reports, “Acupuncture can help relieve short-term pain and recover from dysfunction and has been used as a useful, noninvasive, and conservative modality for managing sports injuries…” That same review points out that acupuncture has been used in clinical settings to treat, “rotator cuff tendinitis, shoulder impingement syndrome, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis,” which were “improved by acupuncture.”
Data supports these claims. One study found that following acupuncture treatment, folks that were treated for shin splints found 90% of their pain relieved and as a result, took 60% less medication for pain relief than their counterparts who did not receive treatment.
Another article points out that acupuncture can be used not only to control pain, but to treat injuries and hasten recovery time for individuals who experience chronic or acute sports-related conditions.
Acupuncture could help with a multitude of sports-related injuries and conditions. At the Woodlands Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic, we have seen great success in treating:
* Sprains, Strains, Pain (Acute or Chronic)
* Shoulder & Arm Injuries;
* Rotator Cuff Strains & Injuries;
* Frozen Shoulder/Stiff Neck/Back
* Tennis, Bowlers & Golf Elbow (tendonitis & tendinopathy)
* Carpal Tunnel
* Trigger Finger
* Shin Splints
* Recovery from Broken Bones & Torn Ligaments (accelerating & promoting healing)
* & MORE
If you’re an athlete—whether professional, playing for a school team, or simply someone who enjoys working out—and would like to be treated for sports medicine, our providers can certainly help you as both of our providers have extensive experience and training in Sports Acupuncture/Acupressure.
At the Woodlands Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic, Dr. Louis Lei Jin is a sports acupuncturist where he combines advanced trigger point acupuncture and orthopedic acupuncture to help athletes have a speedy recovery from injuries, increase performance, and build endurance to prevent future injuries. He would be honored and delighted to help you get back to the activities you love, pain-free.
“Acupuncture for Athletes,” UW Health, UW School of Medicine and Public Health; 2017.