Sports medicine acupuncture is a specialized branch of acupuncture that focuses on treating injuries and enhancing athletic performance in athletes and active individuals. It combines principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with modern sports medicine techniques to address various musculoskeletal issues, pain management, and rehabilitation.
Hi, I'm Jess, owner of Botanical Point, located in Inglewood, Calgary. We are a team of Registered Doctors of Acupuncture and are here to help you on your healing journey, whatever that might look like. Each Acupuncturists at Botanical Point has specialized training in the fields they are continuing their education. I, myself, am also a certified personal trainer, certified sports nutritionist and registered yoga teacher trainer who is continuing my education in sports medicine acupuncture. If you have questions, please reach out. Alright, now back to sports medicine acupuncture.
The goals of sports medicine acupuncture may include
Injury Prevention: Identifying and addressing imbalances or weaknesses in the body to prevent injuries during training and competition.
Injury Rehabilitation: Assisting in the recovery process from sports-related injuries such as muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendonitis, and overuse injuries.
Pain Management: Alleviating pain associated with acute injuries, chronic conditions, or repetitive stress.
Performance Enhancement: Enhancing physical performance by improving flexibility, range of motion, strength, endurance, and coordination.
Practitioners may also incorporate other modalities such as therapeutic exercises, stretching routines, nutritional guidance, and lifestyle recommendations to support overall health and well-being in athletes.
Who can benefit from sports medicine acupuncture?
Sports medicine acupuncture is often sought after by athletes and fitness enthusiasts looking for holistic approaches to injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance optimization. It's important to consult with qualified practitioners who have experience working with athletes and understand the specific demands and goals of sports-related activities.
If you are an athlete or exercising frequently it is important to be preventative in your approach to health. It is much better (and easier) to balance the body and prevent an injury than to treat an injury - which also usually requires taking time off from sports and exercise while we rehab. It is essential to incorporate stretching, rolling out, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic and physiotherapy when needed, into your exercise regime. The better you take care of your body, the longer it will function the way you want it to.
During a course of treatment for injuries or preventative maintenance, we also need to look at how the body is functioning as a whole. Imbalances in the body will make you more susceptible to injuries and slower to heal. Your practitioner may have you keep a food journal to evaluate your diet or recommend herbal formulas to boost qi and blood, which often will be depleted over time from over-exercising.
If you have any other questions, we would be happy to answer them here. As well, if you are looking for different forms of pain relief you might want to check out fire cupping.