Acupuncture and Athletes: A New Trend in Sports Medicine

Acupuncture has been a growing trend in the world of sports. Athletes use it to ease tension caused by overtraining, heal and prevent future injury and to cope with the stress of competition. Standard medicine initially treats injury with the R.I.C.E. method -- Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation -- but elite athletes are discovering that acupuncture can help speed the healing process.

Physical wellness is an important factor in athletic performance. Acupuncture creates a healthy, balanced body when used in conjunction with other therapies such as massage. Acupuncture can also decrease swelling, bruising and muscle spasms. It shortens healing time by improving blood supply to the affected area and increases the range of movement -- especially in the treatment of joint injuries -- by removing body waste products that cause swelling.

Acupuncture compels the body to create its own natural painkillers, anti-inflammatory and anti-stress hormones. Every athlete will respond differently to different types of treatments and therapies, and it is up to the physician to determine which combinations will work best for individual athletes, but from tennis elbow to twisted ankles to stressed knees, acupuncture can aid every type of athlete.

While most athletes are treated for body pain, mental effects of competitive sports are as important as physical aspects. According to Matt Callison, a faculty member at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and licensed acupuncturist in San Diego , Calif. , " After acupuncture treatment, the athlete feels the effect on the nervous and proprioceptive systems. The common response is less pain and a feeling of structural integrity; therefore, a side benefit is a psychological one, as the athlete subjectively knows he/she is getting better and able to compete again. In addition, by balancing the meridian systems with acupuncture, the sympathetic and parasympathetic reach homeostasis. This has a calming affect on the mind -- a direct benefit to injury rehabilitation."

Acupuncture's potential for athletic enhancement is massive, and its role in the world of sports is key for athletes and sports professionals who are anxious for that optimum performance.

To learn more about the role of acupuncture in sports medicine, please contact Pacific College of Oriental Medicine at (800) 729-0941 or visit www.PacificCollege.edu .

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