It’s outdoor season in CO again, and many people are getting outside, getting exercise, having fun – and getting hurt. If you or someone you know is unlucky enough to get a sports injury, this sunny season may be a good time to consider Traditional Chinese Medicine. How acupuncture can help to relieve the pain and inflammation caused by sports injuries. Athletes from Western cultures may be skeptical of the idea that fine needles inserted just under the skin at specific locations can heal injuries and relieve pain effectively. However, this ancient form of medicine has proven effective against many causes of pain and discomfort.
Traditional Chinese medicine sees the body as requiring balance between two kinds of energy, termed Yin and Yang. Together these are balanced through interaction. Chi circulates throughout the body. When a patient has a sport injury or other trauma, the flow of Chi becomes blocked at the injury. By analogy, driving to Denver on highway 36, I can drive 75 mph easily when the traffic flow is very clear. However, when there is a slow down and traffic suddenly appears, that means something is happening on the highway somewhere. If we think about the flow of traffic on I-25 and I-70, it’s clear that the smooth flow on both roads is easily influenced by small traffic mishaps. In the same way, a relatively small injury can slow down or totally stop the flow of Chi. The site of injury on our body may swell up and become painful, warm to the touch, inflamed, stiff, and the muscle may even cramp or spasm. The needling (acupuncture) used in Traditional Chinese Medicine triggers the release of endorphins and other chemicals in the brain that compose the nervous system’s first line of defense against tissue damage. Needling also speeds up the healing process by increasing the flow of Chi and blood into the affected area. The acupuncturist places the needles in specific points after making a diagnosis, and the needles modulate the flow of Chi, redirecting it and then clearing the blockage of energy.
See how acupuncture can help you boost performance and prevent injury in your spring and summer sports. Call us for a free 30-minute consultation – 303-357-9355
