Acupuncture for Sports Injuries
Acupuncture is increasingly used by top sports players and athletes to treat musculoskeletal problems. It is used both on its own and in conjunction with other therapies such as physiotherapy. Professional sports teams are also now offering acupuncture to their players both to treat an injury and to keep them performing at their peak. Many high profile teams have dedicated acupuncturists on board, including the British Rugby team, many Premiership football teams and the British Olympic team.
There are nearly 30 million sports injuries in Britain every year of which a third result in medical treatment or affect normal day-to-day activities. The most common injuries are leg sprains or strains. Half of all tennis players develop tennis elbow, numerous golfers suffer back issues and cyclists present with desperate strains and pains.
Why do I mention these?
Golf, tennis and cycling are more popular with the 40+ generation and as we get older it is harder to recover from these injuries. I see an increasing number from this sector in clinic and treating with great success
The most common injuries I treat include
- Achilles tendon injury
- Back pain
- Hamstring injury
- Knee pain
- Muscle aches
- Neck strain
- Frozen shoulder
- Shin splints
- Tendinitis in various forms
- Tennis elbow
- Wrist Pain
School & Club Sports
Sports injuries from school and club rugby, football, cricket, rowing and athletics are also prevalent and this is another area where acupuncture can help with both the pain from injuries and rehabilitaion
Acupuncture can help alleviate pain caused by sports injuries, by targeting specific points on the body to stimulate the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals, such as endorphins and serotonin
Acupuncture can be used as part of an overall rehabilitation plan for all those recovering from injuries. By improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and increasing range of motion, acupuncture can help speed up the healing process.