How Can Acupuncture Increase Sport Performance?

Did you know that athletes are turning towards alternative medicine to help them increase sports performance and to help recover faster from sport related injuries? Yep!

Common injuries include: shoulder/rotator cuff strain, elbow injuries like tennis or golfer’s elbow, lower back pain, sprain strain of hamstrings or quads, knee injuries, and even ankle and foot injuries.

How can acupuncture help?

Acupuncture has been shown to provide a safe and effective treatment option for a wide-range of conditions, including recovery from sports injuries and increasing sport performance. Acupuncture works by increasing blood flow to specific areas to promote healing, decreases pain and inflammation, and provides a re-set for the nervous system to heal and reboot.

Researchers have discovered that acupuncture can stimulate the release of biochemicals that help prevent athletic fatigue due to intensive exercise. The study showed that electroacupuncture can affect the free radical metabolism process in athletes and increase antioxidant activity.

Researchers in the study came to the conclusion that electroacupuncture – a form of acupuncture – increases enzymes that have antioxidant properties and decreases the body’s biochemical response to stressors, resulting in a decrease in athletic fatigue. These results are significant for any serious athlete or person who regularly exercises at an intense rate and is looking to improve performance and endurance.

If you suffer from a sports injury or looking to increase sports performance, give our office a call today at (425) 686-4498 to set-up your initial consultation to learn how we can help.

Sources:

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/8226