Prevent Summer Sports Injuries

During the spring and summer many people who have been sedentary during the winter months try to make up for all the lost time by exercising too hard, thus causing themselves injury, which further hampers exercise attempts. Then there are those weekend warriors who go mountain climbing or kayaking or try some other rigorous activity without proper physical conditioning. But, you can prevent these injuries. The NIH's summer newsletter has an excellent article on how to prevent sport's injuries. You can read it here. 

If you do wind up getting injured, acupuncture is an excellent therapy to speed healing and recovery time so that you can get back in the game quicker. Acupuncture used alone or with Chinese herbs helps many types of pain such as muscular, skeletal, tendonitis, sports injury, sprains and strains. Acupuncture can stop, reduce or manage pain, increase joint mobility, reduce or eliminate swelling, numbness and tingling. 

The best part about using acupuncture for pain is its safety. There are no side effects unlike many pharmaceutical pain management drugs. And unlike drugs which tend to cover up the symptom instead of treating the root cause of your ailment, Chinese medicine treats the root of the problem, giving you long lasting, effective results. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) recognize acupuncture as a beneficial treatment for a variety of pain syndromes. A recent NIH study led by Dr. Berman shows that acupuncture is as effective or more effective than drugs in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.

How does it work?
There is a saying in Chinese medicine, "Where there is pain, there is no free flow and where there is free flow there is no pain." The free flow is of Blood and Qi (pronounced "chee"). Health is when Qi and Blood flow smoothly throughout the body to nourish, heal and balance. Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac. will spend a considerable amount of time with you during your first visit to discover where your Qi and Blood are stagnated or out of balance and why. The where and why are called a pattern of energetic disharmony. The acupuncture points and herbs chosen are appropriate to balancing your unique pattern of disharmony. Every person is different so you will be treated based upon your individual pattern. One pattern may manifest as stagnation of Qi and Blood thus inhibiting flow into or out of the painful area. A pattern common to chronic pain patients is that there is not enough Qi or Blood to circulate into the affected area which slows or inhibits healing. Therefore the treatment strategy would be to build, nourish and circulate Qi and Blood to that area. In cases of acute pain and injury, the pattern may be excess Qi and Blood stagnation in the painful area, so your practitioner will insert needles to move out the excess, thus relieving pain. 

How many visits will I need?
Each patient's needs vary according to their pattern of disharmony. Many acute injuries only require about two to six visits, whereas chronic pain patients will need more treatment. Most patients start to feel relief after the first treatment. Mrs. Aiyana will give you a tailored treatment plan during your first visit including acupuncture, tui-na massage, pain relieving muscle liniments or patches, and self-care acupressure and stretching.

Call 212-894-0767 for an appointment.