Acupuncture is the art and science of combining anatomy, physiology, and traditional Chinese medical theory together to harmonise and balance various aspects of the body and mind. On a biochemical level, acupuncture stimulates the body to produce pain-relieving endorphins. However, acupuncture is not like an analgesic or anti-inflammatory that will mask pain to allow an athlete to continue playing sports. Instead, it is an intricate system of balance that acts to disperse energy, blood, fluids, or Qi in one area, and spread it to another area that may be lacking.

Sudden injury or sprains respond well to acupuncture. Taking anti-inflammatories such as Tylenol and Advil, and icing the injury are traditional treatments for sports injuries. Chinese medicine uses acupuncture and herbs to reduce swelling, mobilise blood flow, and treat the pain. And while the injury may still be painful for a short period of time, the tendency for the injury to become a source of chronic pain can be avoided. Most people will find temporary relief from the pain after the first visit, but long term healing generally requires a series of 6-10 visits, one or two times a week. Although this may seem like a big investment of time and money to heal a sprain, the active patient can continue with sports and livelihood without excessive use of pain medication. Acupuncture will also prevent future injuries by keeping muscles and tendons fine tuned, supple, and well balanced.

Chronic pain problems related to past injuries are also treatable with acupuncture. The best results are with soft tissue problems including skin, muscles, nerves and tendons. Several studies comparing the use of acupuncture and other sports medicine treatments have been done in medical journals since the early 1990's. In 1998, The Journal of Acupuncture in Medicine published an overview of double blind placebo controlled studies addressing acupuncture care and lower back pain. "They concluded that acupuncture yields statistically satisfactory results, especially in cases where spasm plays a prominent role…This review of the literature noted that acupuncture speeds pain, inflammation, and spasm resolution and may help reenervation by stimulating the release of growth factor." (M. Rush, Medical Acupuncture: Some Orthopedists Turn to The East. CBCHealthwatch.com) Problems resulting from advanced bony abnormalities, or injuries with fracture and dislocation, are harder to treat with acupuncture; however, Chinese medicine is still applicable, as are other modes of naturopathic treatment such as homeopathy and herbal medicine.

One common question regarding acupuncture is "Does it hurt?" Individual responses vary widely: there is sometimes a brief sharp sensation at insertion. After that, the sensations may be anything including warmth, itching, heaviness, tingling, or nothing at all. Often the sensations are felt somewhere else than the point of insertion, illustrating the idea of a channel that the energy is travelling along. The feeling is nothing like that associated with needles used for injection, and the needles themselves are very different - they are solid, flexible, and as fine as a hair.

In conclusion, acupuncture is an important component of sports medicine and injury treatment and prevention. Other aspects of naturopathic medicine such as nutrition and homeopathy are also important for an athlete to consider, as the functions of the mind and body must be as healthy as the muscles and tendons to ensure complete health and well being.

Other important components of sports medicine are: massage therapy to keep the muscles and tendons relaxed, chiropractic care to ensure good nervous system health and joint alignment, and personal training to ensure that proper form is maintained while exercising.

For more information on sports medicine and acupuncture, check out these websites:

www.acupuncture.com
~ information on all aspects of traditional chinese medicine

www.acupuncturetoday.com
~ selected articles, condition center, references, journal articles

Or, to ask personal questions, please contact one of the naturopathic doctors at 360º Health Care at 416 360 1300.