Summertime is a great time for getting outdoors. Recreation is not only fun, but it makes us feel good and enhances our overall wellbeing. A pickup game of basketball, joining a community baseball team, striking out on your own to improve your cross country time or enjoying kayaking on the lake all benefits our physical and mental health.
But what happens when we overdo it? The effects of a sports injury can be very debilitating in a number of ways, and acupuncture can help.
According to a study of exercise habits in the United States* released four years ago; more than 50 million people have a regular exercise program, at least 39 million participate in team or competitive sports and another 15 million just want to get out into the great outdoors to hike, bike or ski. This study goes on to report that in 2002, while several injuries were minor, self-limiting or self-treated, more than 3 million resulted in emergency room treatment. The emergency room is the right place for evaluation to determine if your injury requires immediate treatment. Often the doctor will send you home with either pain relievers or advice to take it easy.
Let's talk about the most common injuries that require rest and relaxation - and where healing can be hastened by acupuncture. A sprain is a small tear or injury to a ligament that connects bones at a joint. A strain can be caused by overuse or a tear to the muscle or the tendon that attaches the muscle to the bone. Acupuncture treats the injury by increasing the flow of energy (called Qi) and fluids in and out of the area, decreasing inflammation and assisting in the body's own healing mechanism.
It is likely that your acupuncturist would use electrical stimulation technique for this type of injury. The insertion of the needles, which are single-use and fine as a hair, is hardly felt on most points. When the electrical stimulation is attached, a light tapping is felt through the muscle. Relaxing on the treatment table with these electrodes and wires crisscrossing your body may make you think of Frankenstein's monster, but in fact the treatment is very comfortable, and you will be in very good company. Pitcher David Cone received acupuncture for shoulder pain; Rich Aurilia is an acupuncture fan, and pitchers Matt Suzada and Yoshii Tadano brought their acupuncturists with them when they came to the major leagues.
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners will also help you to evaluate your diet and exercise habits for best performance and to keep your body nourished to avoid injury. Here are some general ideas: heavy exercise in hot weather can damage your fluids. In Oriental medicine we refer to this as the Yin aspect of your health. Many athletes drink water and it goes right through them. The Yin aspect is more than water - it is the “stuff” in your body that holds and uses these fluids. So if your water is going right through you, the Yin aspect may need to be nourished. For many people switching to warm water can help. Eating watermelon and berries post workout help to replace lost Yin. Eating a boiled egg, if your diet allows, helps nourish the Yin.
You can think of Yin as the physical substance of your body, and the Qi as the energy that runs through it. When you are burning up a lot of Qi, just like running a car for a long time in the heat, you need to replenish the fluids so that you will run like a well-oiled machine.
In addition to treating sports injuries, athletes and weekend warriors alike use acupuncture to help strengthen and improve mechanics in order to avoid injury. An evaluation with your acupuncturist can take up to half an hour, and the treatment is usually included in the first visit. Fresh air, recreation and exercise are good for the body and good for the soul. Enjoy yourself this summer, and think of acupuncture to assist you in the prevention and treatment of a sports injury
*Comprehensive Study of Sports Injuries, American Sports Data, 2003
Mercy Yule, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist and Oriental
medicine practitioner currently practicing at The Center, located on Genesee Street in Auburn. She may be reached at 704-0319
According to a study of exercise habits in the United States* released four years ago; more than 50 million people have a regular exercise program, at least 39 million participate in team or competitive sports and another 15 million just want to get out into the great outdoors to hike, bike or ski. This study goes on to report that in 2002, while several injuries were minor, self-limiting or self-treated, more than 3 million resulted in emergency room treatment. The emergency room is the right place for evaluation to determine if your injury requires immediate treatment. Often the doctor will send you home with either pain relievers or advice to take it easy.
Let's talk about the most common injuries that require rest and relaxation - and where healing can be hastened by acupuncture. A sprain is a small tear or injury to a ligament that connects bones at a joint. A strain can be caused by overuse or a tear to the muscle or the tendon that attaches the muscle to the bone. Acupuncture treats the injury by increasing the flow of energy (called Qi) and fluids in and out of the area, decreasing inflammation and assisting in the body's own healing mechanism.
It is likely that your acupuncturist would use electrical stimulation technique for this type of injury. The insertion of the needles, which are single-use and fine as a hair, is hardly felt on most points. When the electrical stimulation is attached, a light tapping is felt through the muscle. Relaxing on the treatment table with these electrodes and wires crisscrossing your body may make you think of Frankenstein's monster, but in fact the treatment is very comfortable, and you will be in very good company. Pitcher David Cone received acupuncture for shoulder pain; Rich Aurilia is an acupuncture fan, and pitchers Matt Suzada and Yoshii Tadano brought their acupuncturists with them when they came to the major leagues.
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners will also help you to evaluate your diet and exercise habits for best performance and to keep your body nourished to avoid injury. Here are some general ideas: heavy exercise in hot weather can damage your fluids. In Oriental medicine we refer to this as the Yin aspect of your health. Many athletes drink water and it goes right through them. The Yin aspect is more than water - it is the “stuff” in your body that holds and uses these fluids. So if your water is going right through you, the Yin aspect may need to be nourished. For many people switching to warm water can help. Eating watermelon and berries post workout help to replace lost Yin. Eating a boiled egg, if your diet allows, helps nourish the Yin.
You can think of Yin as the physical substance of your body, and the Qi as the energy that runs through it. When you are burning up a lot of Qi, just like running a car for a long time in the heat, you need to replenish the fluids so that you will run like a well-oiled machine.
In addition to treating sports injuries, athletes and weekend warriors alike use acupuncture to help strengthen and improve mechanics in order to avoid injury. An evaluation with your acupuncturist can take up to half an hour, and the treatment is usually included in the first visit. Fresh air, recreation and exercise are good for the body and good for the soul. Enjoy yourself this summer, and think of acupuncture to assist you in the prevention and treatment of a sports injury
*Comprehensive Study of Sports Injuries, American Sports Data, 2003
Mercy Yule, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist and Oriental
medicine practitioner currently practicing at The Center, located on Genesee Street in Auburn. She may be reached at 704-0319
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