Injured Athletes and Acupuncture


I have always been amazed at the clinical results that I have seen with injured athletes and acupuncture. For a while, my wife and I worked closely with a number of athletes from a world championship athletic team, the Santa Barbara Condors At the world class level, these athletes would be compared to world cup soccer players in the way their body is used and abused. My findings were that for most types of injuries, acupuncture had profound results. What is important is the distinction between acupuncture that is used to get rid of pain, and acupuncture that is used to relax the muscles and soft tissue (while freeing up the energy flow). Also, the distinction of separating sprain from strain and tear. The best results that I always found were from stress and strain. Tear, I would always refer to an Orthopedic Physician and suggest herbs to speed up the healing process. When it comes to knots, clicks, pops, soreness, tension, and aches, acupuncture is extremely effective.

As a warning, I would caution athletes to train as if they are competing. If you are interested in getting acupuncture, start in the off season, and stay with it through the year. If you are close to your championships and have never had acupuncture, you may get the results you are looking for, but with all complimentary medicine, expect the unexpected. You don't want to be too relaxed on the day of a competition, and if you are always high strung and relax deeply you may get a detox reaction. While a detox reaction is usually mild, such as light headedness, nausea, or fatigue, these changes in the body are not desirable just prior to competition.

Mark Fischer, LAc is a licensed Oriental medical physician. He has a clinical acupuncture and oriental medical practice in Boulder Colorado.


More Resources

Getting More out of Your Massage with a Epsom Bath Afterwards!
As a massage therapist, I often recommend taking a Hot Epsom salt Bath after a massage because of several factors. One I have moved alot of metabolic waste as I manipulated the muscle tissues.
Quiet Discoveries Lead to Fast Sinus Relief
It's amazing what you can find when you start your search a little outside the bulls eye. While clicking through Magnetic Resonance Imaging research online, my colleagues and I found some intriguing scientific studies completely by accident!What did we find? Well, let's just say if you've got a stuffy nose you should try magnets before sniffling through that bottle of nasal spray!Did you know that every year, more than 35 million Americans suffer from sinusitis? It's one of the leading chronic diseases in the United States [1].
Oops! One Size DOESNT Fit All
The Stop Smoking Hypnosis people.The ancient Greeks certainly had their share of eccentrics.
Shemale Breast Enlargement - Transgender Breast Development
Shemales, or transgender males who strive to achieve more feminine qualities and physical features, are turning to natural supplements, often also used by women for the same purpose, to increase their breast size and give them heavier, larger breasts that look like a woman's breasts, and actually are biologically the same as a woman's breast.Although most herbal breast enlargement supplements will not work the same in a man's body due to biological and chemical differences, there is a supplement that actually is not herbal in nature, and works just as well on a man, or shemale as it does on a woman for breast enlargement.
Migraine Headaches And Chronic Pain: Essential Oil Of Lavender, A Natural Remedy
If you suffer migraines or chronic headaches, you are not alone. In fact, you're in good company.
Feuille D Menthe: The Cooling and Uplifting Fragrance of Green Grass
Feuille D'Menthe is a blend of several fragrant grass essential oils, with the main ingredients being sage, vetiver, mint and basilic. The perfect combination of these fragrant herbs exudes a rich and fresh aroma, without gloom and turbidity.
Natural Smoothie Formula to Stop Constipation and Acne
Here is how to build a natural smoothie that can stop constipation, relieve acne, improve your skin and give you more energy. The smoothie base is a liquid slurry that can be used to add more natural ingredients.
Top 10 Trends in Healthcare
America is undergoing a dramatic shift in healthcare. Actually, ten distinctly different shifts.
Bling Therapy - Healing with Gemstones
From jeweled necklaces to ankle bracelets, and all the tops and bottoms in between, we suddenly see Bling on every one and every thing! You instinctively knew that something about diamonds and rubies made you feel good when you first saw them sparkle on your friends, and they made you feel even better when they were shining on you.However, did you know that many of the gemstones we have come to know and love as Bling could actually heal you both physically and emotionally? Yes, now you can justify owning gems in every color because more and more evidence is surfacing that they can actually heal you.
Holistic Methods: Hemp Seed Oil and Aromatherapy in Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Aromatherapy is a well known holistic method for healing, but when boosted by the quickly penetrating carrier hemp seed oil, the healing potential is magnified exponentially. No other carrier oil can take the beneficial medicinal qualities of aromatic essential oils as quickly through the epidermis as hemp seed oil, so if your lotions and salves are missing it, you're not doing your body justice, but it's not too late?.
Can I Be Hypnotised?
If you are conscious, have an IQ higher than about 80 (average is 100), have the ability to concentrate, and also have the ability to dream - then you can be hypnotised.You see, hypnosis is a perfectly normal state of consciousness that you will enter into maybe several times a day.
Body Calling: All Natural Cures
Natural remedies can heal and have been around for centuries. They are affodable cost wise: vitamins, minerals, calcium supplements, digestive enzymes and essential oils.
Why Your Search for Pain Relief Needs a Strategy
If you're like most of us who have known chronic pain, you've tried one thing after another to ease your suffering. Here are three reasons why working with your subconscious and having a well-defined strategy may increase your chances of success.
New Foot in the Sand Technology can Solve Many Health Problems
A vast array of after-market insoles has been merchandised through the years. Most of these consist of a bed of cushioning foam with only hints of accommodation for foot anatomy.
Evening Primrose Oil Benefits
The evening primrose oil which we use is extracted from the seeds of Oenthera biennis, a plant native to North America. The evening primrose plant resembles a primrose but is related to the willow herb group.
A Free Natural Medicine Which is also Your Strongest, Most Abundant, and Easiest to Use
We've all heard, haven't we, that a 40-year-old was considered elderly in the past? With America's aging population, why wouldn't we take advantage of reasons to count ourselves lucky to live beyond 40? After all, as little as 200 years ago the average life span in North America was 37 years. But the idea that anyone over 40 back then is a misinterpretation of statistical data.
Demystifying Hands On Healing
While hands-on healing is probably the easiest of skills to learn, it is also one of the most misunderstood of subjects. In this article, I thought to cover some of the basic elements of hands-on healing and one of my attempts to validate its effectiveness.
Relieving Hemorrhoids with Natural Remedies
Here are a variety of natural remedies that you can use to relief from your hemorrhoids. You can try one until you find one that works for you.
Dandelions! This Common Weed is a Wonderful Spring Tonic
Those Glorious Dandelions! Taraxacum officinale (composite family)Spring is coming! Starting about this time every year I find myself craving bitter flavors. My body is longing to cleanse itself of toxins accumulated over a long winter of holiday indulgence, rich foods and various colds & flus.
Relieving Chronic Pain Through Visualizations: A Three-Part Strategy
The most effective way to use the subconscious for pain relief seems to be to encourage it to attack the pain process from three different directions. Here's a recap that you may be able to use to help build an effective strategy for easing your pain.

More Alternative Information:

Related Articles

Constipation Remedy Using Apples and Other Juices
Here are two constipation remedies that you can use for a mild case of constipation and for a chronic case of constipation.Apple and Pear JuiceIf you have a mild case of constipation, you can use this remedy to get results.
What Does The Label Vegan Mean in Bedding Products?
Vegan, or vegetarian, organic fills and batting, are natural materials free of animal ingredients and by-products (including wool, silk, fur, leather, dairy, eggs, honey, beeswax, and lanolin). Additionally, no animal ingredient or animal by-product inputs are used in manufacturing and processing.
Top 3 Yogis Secrets for Health and Happiness
For hundreds of years, the yogi's have been known to know the secrets for health, peace and happiness. In this short, but informative article, I will briefly describe 3 of these secrets with you.
Naturopathy
Naturopathy is a holistic therapy that relies on natural remedies. Sunlight, air, and water are thought of as natural healers; this, along with nutritional supplements and massage therapies are all part of naturopathy.
Constipation: the Fast, Easy Answer to Something No One Talks About
Everyone jokes about constipation, but it's no joke if you're the one suffering from it. And "suffering" is the right word for it! It's a miserable feeling.
Natural Sleep Aid Tips and Remedies
This article is a summary of some of the sleep aid remedies that are described in greater detail and with recipes and instructions at www.sleep-aid-tips.
Snoring: A Common Sleep Disorder
Sleep consumes as much as one-third or more of the average human's life. Even if people hope for restful sleep, many types of sleep disorder reduce the quality and quantity of sleep.
Is Shiatsu Massage the Ultimate Stress Relief Treatment?
My first shiatsu massageI opened my eyes suddenly. He was smiling at me.
Healing Waters of California
Back in the late 1800's the railroad came to life. Track was laid from one end of the country to the other, creating a method of transportation that the average citizen could use to get to the west coast.
Using Psyllium For Relieving Constipation
If you have asthma, do not take or use psyllium. Some people with asthma have had allergic reactions to psyllium and the powder from psyllium can cause an asthma attack.
The Secret Weapon To Beat SARS Is In Your Head
Just when you thought you had all the fun you could possibly handle with Saddam Hussein, North Korea, Al Quaeda and the winter that just won't die, along comes SARS - severe-acute respiratory syndrome.I recently fielded a call on this subject from one of my biggest fans: "You moron.
The Power of Ganoderma in Oriental Medicine
Ganoderma, a rare variety of Mushroom credited with the highest medicinal qualities by the classic Chinese 'Seng Nong' is indeed a subject of much research from the ancient china of 100 B.C.
Ayurveda - Principles & Practice
Ayurveda which has been evolved around 600 BC, apart from treating ailments concentrated more in its prevention. This was followed by the Aryans & Dravidians who were inhabiting India and has been practiced ever since.
Natural Remedies for Eliminating Warts Quickly & Safely!
Warts are a type of infection caused by virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). There are about 60 types of HPV viruses that cause various sexually transmitted diseases.
Arthritis Diet Myths- Dont Be Fooled By These Food Fables!
One of the most popular myths I hear from my patients is that eating golden raisins soaked in gin will cure arthritis. There is no good research to support this notion.
How to Avoid Potentially Harmful Chemicals in Your Area Rugs and Other Home Furnishings
You purchase a beautiful area rug. You know just where it will go within your home.
Disabilities Stuttering
There are many types of disablity. Would people class stuttering as a disability?I think most people would probably say no, however I disagree.
Which to Use When: Ice or Heat?
Knee pain after running? Wake up with a backache? Twist an ankle?When aches, pain, strains or swelling take place due to an injury or chronic condition, what is the best course of action: ice or heat? Many people automatically assume heat will ease their discomfort. Think again!Ice and heat have opposite effects when dealing with inflammation and pain.
Why Use An Aromatherapy Diffuser?
We breathe 22,000 times a day, inhaling 400 cubic feet of air.We spend 80% of our time indoors where air may be no cleaner than outdoors air.
Alter Your Perceptions
This article first appeared in The Sept. 2004 issueof The ZoneNet newsletterNo matter how fast we run, many of us are haunted by the urge to look back.