Can acupuncture treat athletic injury?
When I first moved to California in 2001 I was thirsty to explore my new home. I would drive to fun destinations and go on bike rides up to 70 miles long.
At one point I started bicycle commuting. I loved it. It was fun and challenging. I felt badass for doing it. AND…commuting 4-5 days per week took a toll on my body. I was dealing with some chronic hip pain that demanded rest. So, I set the bicycle aside. For years because of my untreated athletic injury.
Does it take more effort to be in pain or to do self care, like acupuncture, for athletic injury?
I have plenty of patients who lament that caring for their body feels like a nuisance. I get it. There’s so much life to live, why waste it doing physical therapy exercises or avoiding inflammatory foods?! Well, because your body is the one vehicle you receive during your time on this planet and entropy is *a thing*. It takes energy and intention to maintain its proper functioning let alone recover from those old dancing or knitting injuries.
I have been where you are. I have gone into “F-it” mode, skipped my back strengthening exercises and eaten *all the things* while on vacation. But at a certain point I realized, it takes more effort and energy to be in pain, to be injured, to feel like crap and recover from a low point than it does to prevent getting there. So, I committed to MY body’s “recipe” for success: regular acupuncture, periodic chiropractic adjustments and massage, taking certain herbs and supplements, tending to my diet, sleeping with a knee pillow (sometimes it’s the small things) and regular yoga. These days, with the help of this recipe, my hip feels strong and relatively pain-free.
That’s right folks. Acupuncture is one of my ingredients and an effective ingredient for so many of my patients. Acupuncture is powerful for relieving athletic injury.
Acupuncture is effective for pain and athletic injury
So much so that on a recent weekend, looking out at the California sunshine, I felt pulled to dust off my bike and put air in the tires. I promised myself a flat, easy ride along the Bay Trail, no heroics, AND… It was… Like riding a bike! My legs had muscle memory, my spirit delighted in the experience and my body felt fine.
AND I credit the ease of this ride to my own recipe for success, which includes regular acupuncture.
What can I expect from an acupuncture session?
When I work with someone on anything from body pain to insomnia, I develop a treatment plan for them. The plan may include supplements, nutrition suggestions, self care practices all designed to support faster recovery. Over time we determine which of the items in the treatment plan are “mission critical”. In other words, which will support you in spacing out (and eventually ending the need for) acupuncture visits AND which you can rely on as a recipe to keep yourself well and to recover from weekend warrior stuff.
Is there an activity that you once loved but injury keeps you from doing it? Would you like to work out your own recipe for success? I invite you to get your questions answered during a free, 15-minute consultation that you can book opens in a new window::HERE::
Best Acupuncturist in Oakland and the East Bay
P.S. I’m once again deeply honored to be nominated for Best Acupuncturist of the East Bay by Oakland Magazine. Thank you so much to my wonderful patients and community for nominating me. AND I would be thrilled to win so that I can support even more people to have freedom from pain and ease in their mind and spirits. Would you vote for me? Acupuncture is the first category under “Beauty, Health and Wellness”. You can vote opens in a new window::HERE::
