How does acupuncture work on sports injuries?
Posted on February 18, 2010
Filed Under Acupuncture | 3 Comments
I’m wondering mostly if it just masks the pain… I have what I think is a small tear on where the muscle attaches on the inside of my knee. I got acupuncture on it yesterday and it feels remarkably better. If it just masks the pain I don’t want to make it worse… but the Chinese medicine woman I went to said to run all I want.
How does it work?
should I run if it feels good?
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3 Responses to “How does acupuncture work on sports injuries?”
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Always trust the wise chinese medicine woman! That’s the medicine that’s been working for thousands of years. You’ll be fine.
Whomever told you to “run all you want” is completely irresponsible and I am banging my hand against my head and sighing…
I would take it easy for a while. Walk and see how that feels… Any reputable acupuncturist would encourage you to seek radiology/mri before telling you to “run all you want” if you indeed feel that you tore something.
Acupuncture works in a variety of ways – the verdict is still out and no one really knows HOW it works – don’t let anyone tell you anything differently. There are several valid explanations. My personal belief is that we are sending specific signals to our brain to stimulate healing in different parts of our bodies depending on where we put the needles. Our nervous system is very complex.
Get a different acupuncturist – that is my best advice. A good herbal protocol will also help strengthen your sinews and muscles.
If your pain feels gone, I’d say your pain relief is real. There is nothing there to mask your pain. What has happened is the needles inserted into you body have activated the circulation of energy and blood in your knee. Your pain was a result of blocked flow, but now that the flow has increased you feel good. Movement is the natural state of life, when that happens tissues can repair themselves. Your acupuncturist just encouraged your body to do what it naturally wants to do… have movement and circulation. The needles provided a stimulus to your brain and nervous system to direct more flow to the injured part of your body… viola …healing happened. I would say it is okay to keep moving, run if you feel up to it, but listen to your body, don’t over do it.