Improve Your Game with Acupuncture
by Steven Sonmore, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
If you’re like most golf and tennis players, you play to win. But is the condition of your body standing in your way? The truth is that your body is the most important piece of sports equipment you own. You can have the finest set of golf clubs that money can buy, for example, but if pain and stiffness are holding back your swing, those clubs will do you no good.
You might be surprised to learn that acupuncture can help you to bring your golf or tennis game to the next level. First of all, acupuncture is especially effective in treating tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. These conditions, which are due to repetitive overuse of your elbow’s extensor and flexor muscles, are rarely treated satisfactorily by conventional methods. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroid injections can cause numerous side effects, and surgery is invasive and often largely ineffective.
Acupuncture Therapy Shows Significant Results In Treating Elbow and Back Pain
Within the last 20 years, studies have shown that acupuncture is more effective in the treatment of elbow pain than drugs, injections, or surgery. In one compelling study published in the journal, Pain (1983), 21 out of 34 patients who were treated with acupuncture became completely pain-free or had significant reduction of pain. Many of these patients had been given one or more steroid injections without improvement.
Numerous studies have also shown that acupuncture reduces or eliminates back pain. In fact, researchers recently analyzed 33 studies and concluded that acupuncture was very effective in treating lower back pain. A British study also found that acupuncture’s effects are longer term than most other treatments.
The Benefits of Acupuncture for Golf and Tennis Players
What does acupuncture do for someone who plays golf or tennis – whether or not you suffer from elbow or back pain?
- It relaxes muscle spasms.
- It releases your body’s natural steroids which reduce inflammation.
- It releases endorphins which kill pain.
- It improves blood flow and speeds healing.
- It calms nerve irritation.
- It elevates your mood.
- It improves your memory.
- It regulates hormones and body functions.
- It eliminates stress and improves your sleep.
- It enhances your immune system.
And most importantly:
- It improves your performance on the court or on the green.
Acupuncture is Completely Natural
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine are holistic approaches to health recovery that are more than 5,000 years old and have helped billions of people become well and stay healthy. Unlike drugs and steroid injections, acupuncture does not cause side effects or toxicity, and acupuncture is a virtually pain-free treatment. The needles are so small and inserted so superficially under the skin that you’ll barely know they’re there.
An experienced, seasoned acupuncturist balances and activates your body’s natural healing potential by treating the root cause of your health problem, not just suppressing the symptoms. Your diagnosis creates a clear picture of the specific systems in your body that are out of balance.
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine play a vital role in the reduction or elimination of pain by reducing recovery time and preventing a chronic condition from developing. They go far beyond just treating pain. They affect you physically, mentally, and emotionally. And let’s face it: All three need to be working well in a successful golf or tennis match.
You’ll be back in the game with effective sports acupuncture treatment at Complete Oriental Medical Care.
Schedule your appointment for greater sports performance today. Call 952-831-8080. Or go to our contact page now.
