Athletic Recovery Made Easy: How Acupuncture Supports Injury Healing

Sports injuries can pose significant challenges for athletes, leading to considerable setbacks that may hinder their performance for extended periods. These injuries often necessitate lengthy recovery times, which can disrupt training schedules and competition timelines. In recent years, acupuncture has gained popularity as a highly effective holistic treatment method that complements allopathic rehabilitation approaches. 

This integrative therapy not only promotes physical healing but also enhances mental well-being, offering a more comprehensive recovery experience for athletes. By integrating acupuncture into their recovery regimen, athletes may experience expedited healing processes and improved overall athletic performance, bridging the gap between Allopathic and integrative treatments.

Understanding Sports Injuries

 

Athletic injuries are common, varying from minor wounds such as a toe injury to more complex strains such as an ACL tear. These injuries can be the result of trauma from a sudden impact or awkward movement, referred to as acute injuries. They may develop gradually due to the repetitive use of specific joints or muscle groups, known as chronic injuries. Common causes often include not warming up properly, the use of inadequate equipment, or overtraining. 

Musculoskeletal injuries are the most common injury for athletes. These include fractures, dislocations, sprains, strains, tendonitis, herniations, or bursitis. The most common injuries that occur in athletes are back pain, concussions, neck, and ankle injuries.

Understanding Recovery Challenges 

Recovering from a sports injury looks different for everyone. A recovery plan will aim to restore physical strength and address psychosocial challenges that may arise during the healing process. During the recovery process, athletes can develop more mental stress and detriment to their mental health as a result of being taken out of their sport and training program. Athletes can also display impatience and anxiety towards the healing process, as a result of temporarily losing their competitive edge. 

Some injuries may heal in a few days to weeks, while more severe cases may require a recovery period upwards of six months. Many factors can halt the recovery process, such as returning to sports too soon, ignoring pain, or neglecting proper rehabilitation. When in the peak of competition season, it is more difficult for an athlete to get proper rest and recovery from training and injury, which can delay the healing cycle and postpone repair. 

The Role of Acupuncture In Supporting Athletic Recovery 

Acupuncture has three main benefits for supporting athletic recovery: pain relief, inflammation reduction, and trigger point release. It is most commonly used to treat injuries such as sprains, knee and back injuries, or tendonitis. Individuals are increasingly turning to acupuncture due to its effectiveness in complementing other treatments, its low risk of side effects, and its reputation as a natural therapy. Additionally, many athletes are under strict drug screening and opt to use other therapies to mediate pain while staying compliant to compete in their sport. Acupuncture promotes the circulation of oxygen and nutrients to the injury site to nourish the tissues and support the body in its natural healing and injury repair. 

Pain Relief 

The ancient science of acupuncture has been used for centuries to relieve pain. Acupuncture involves the insertion of ultra-fine needles into the skin at specific points on the body, known as acupoints. This triggers the central nervous system of the body, releasing chemicals that stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities. The release of natural pain-relieving chemicals, such as endorphins and serotonin, during acupuncture can provide immediate pain relief and reduce discomfort. A 2018 trial concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic pain, with treatment effects persisting over time.

Inflammation Reduction 

In recent decades, Western medicine has embraced acupuncture as a treatment for inflammation. One study demonstrated that acupuncture can reduce and regulate inflammation by stimulating various pathways that link the nervous and immune systems, both of which play a crucial role in the body’s inflammatory response. Additionally, another study displayed results that acupuncture may reduce inflammation by stimulating the vagus nerve, which is part of the parasympathetic nervous system and plays a key role in regulating the body’s stress response.

It has also been proven that acupuncture can improve blood circulation. This enhances the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the inflamed area while supporting the removal of waste products, both of which are essential for the body’s natural healing process. 

Trigger Point Release  

Acupuncture can offer a holistic, noninvasive method to restore muscle function, strengthen weak muscles, and release tightness. Trigger points can occur in muscles when they are overused or misused and, over time, can begin to limit mobility. 

During acupuncture, ultra-fine needles stimulate motor nerves, triggering involuntary muscle contractions that help release trigger points. This ultimately strengthens and rehabilitates previously weak muscles. 

Acupuncture can restore proper biomechanical balance by relaxing tight muscles and strengthening weak ones, thereby reducing pain and improving performance. Studies show statistically significant improvements in pressure pain threshold, pain intensity, and range of motion in muscle groups following acupuncture.

Try It For Yourself 

As an adjunct to Western medical treatments, acupuncture has the potential to enhance an athlete’s recovery process and expedite their return to sports activities. It is essential to consult with a licensed healthcare professional before commencing acupuncture therapy.

If you're thinking about acupuncture for sports injury treatment, reach out to our specialists at the VUIM Clinic to kickstart your recovery journey today!

Sources:

1. Chou, L., Hsieh, Y., Chen, H., Hong, C.Z., Kao, M.J., & Han, T. (2011). Remote Therapeutic Effectiveness of Acupuncture in Treating Myofascial Trigger Point of the Upper Trapezius Muscle. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 90, 1036–1049.

2. Li, N., Guo, Y., Gong, Y., Zhang, Y., Fan, W., Yao, K., Chen, Z., Dou, B., Lin, X., Chen, B., Chen, Z., Xu, Z., & Lyu, Z. (2021). The Anti-Inflammatory Actions and Mechanisms of Acupuncture from Acupoint to Target Organs via Neuro-Immune Regulation. Journal of inflammation research, 14, 7191–7224. 

https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S341581

3. Lim, H. D., Kim, M. H., Lee, C. Y., & Namgung, U. (2016). Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Acupuncture Stimulation via the Vagus Nerve. PloS one, 11(3), e0151882. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151882

4. Tsuchiya, M., Sato, E. F., Inoue, M., & Asada, A. (2007). Acupuncture enhances generation of nitric oxide and increases local circulation. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 104(2), 301-307. DOI: 10.1213/01.ane.0000230622.16367.fb

5. Vickers, A. J., Vertosick, E. A., Lewith, G., MacPherson, H., Foster, N. E., Sherman, K. J., Irnich, D., Witt, C. M., Linde, K., & Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration (2018). Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. The journal of pain, 19(5), 455–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005