One of the most heartbreaking events to happen in an athlete’s world is injury! Athletes and active people prefer to continue through many, if not most, injuries because working out is so much more than a way to burn calories and lose weight! It is a physical, emotional and spiritual release. It is a way to find peace, ease and balance. It is a way to feel in control in an out of control world. Telling an active person that they need to take time off to recover is like cutting off their lifeline.
At JADA Studios we try our hardest to help our patients navigate their injuries without taking time away from sport. However, the gold star to achieving this is proactivity. We can help with injury prevention! Injury comes in many forms and shapes and involve the bones, joints, nervous system, tendons or ligaments and muscles.
Inflammation and swelling: We can help with inflammation and swelling including sprains! The body’s defense when it is injured is often inflammation and swelling. For a short amount of time, this is actually helpful, however if the inflammation and swelling lasts too long, it can start to be a nuisance and cause other issues. Acupuncture along with manual therapy is fantastic at reducing both inflammation and swelling, allowing the body to function normally and return the athlete to their activity quicker.
Increase blood flow: Amongst many amazing attributes of acupuncture is its ability to increase blood flow in the body both systemically and locally. Injuries sometimes occur because the joint or tissue is dried out and malnourished. Acupuncture increases the blood flow and in turn the tissue is healthier, happier and injury free.
Muscle tears or strains: Micro-tears in the muscles happen during any workout, it is what helps our body become stronger and our muscles toned. However, tears that are too numerous or too large is detrimental and needs to be addressed. Because acupuncture can increase blood flow, it can also help heal muscle tears and strains. Further, because of acupuncture’s ability to alter and improve blood flow, it is also a champion at nourishing and lubricating the joints and muscles. A healthy muscle is more resilient, powerful and injury resistant than a dried out and tired muscle. The same holds true for joints, ligaments and the nervous system. Motion is lotion!
Loosen or tighten a muscle: Some injuries happen because muscles are too tight and bound up. Some injuries happen because the muscle is too loose. Acupuncture can tighten a loose muscle and loosen a tight muscle. Restoring balance and harmony ensures that the muscle can perform and recover properly, aka… no injury!
Recovery: The body’s ability to adequately and effectively recover is critical to remaining injury free. If the body fully recovers after an activity, event or workout, the probability of staying healthy sharply increases. Both acupuncture and manual therapy aids the body in recovery. A body that is adequately recovered is better able to avoid injury and recover from small setbacks far better than a body that is fatigued and worn-out.
The greatest take-away is that acupuncture is topnotch at restoring the body’s function and correcting dysfunction. Whatever goes wrong, acupuncture can direct the body on how to heal. Acupuncture reduces the damage and increase the body’s healing potential. A high functioning body is like a high functioning athlete, both are unstoppable and infallible. The reward for an athlete being proactive with their recovery and injury prevention is their lack of injuries and decreased days away from their activity or sport.
Dr. Hilary Patzer, L.Ac., Craniosacral, Neurokinetic & Level III Fascial Stretch Specialist