Runners are gearing up for the New York City Marathon in early November. If you’re one of them, perhaps your training schedule is starting to take a toll on your body. With 26.2 miles ahead of you, preventing and treating injuries is essential. When ice baths and stretching don’t cut it, consider acupuncture to ease any discomfort, keep you in top form, and hasten your post-marathon recovery.
The Summer 2008 Olympics held in Beijing, China fittingly brought acupuncture for athletes into the spotlight. The ancient form of traditional Chinese medicine was offered to every athlete free of charge for the first time in Olympic history. By reducing inflammation, spasms, and pressure, controlling pain, and boosting blood circulation, acupuncture alleviates pain associated with sports-related injuries. Whether an injury is due to acute trauma or overuse, acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing response. With little to no side effects, when performed by a qualified, licensed acupuncturist, everyone from elite athletes to weekend warriors can enjoy the benefits.
An acupuncturist doesn’t merely treat the symptoms when faced with a running injury, or any condition. They look for the root cause of the problem and take the patient as a whole into account, which is particularly helpful when addressing chronic injuries or a predisposition to injury. This is why pro sports teams often rely on practitioners to treat tears, sprains, and post-operative pain. As an added bonus, acupuncture reduces stress, including those pesky pre-race jitters. When you feel your best, you perform your best.
A systematic review conducted by researchers at the University of Western Sydney found that electro-acupuncture improved peak power output, rate pressure product, and blood pressure. Another study included in the review discovered significant recovery from aerobic exercise with the use of traditional acupuncture, such as improved consumption of oxygen, heart rate, and blood lactase levels, in between training sessions. Individuals experienced restored muscle balance and strength and increased range of motion as well.
Acupuncture has been the subject of a variety of large studies that have illustrated the efficacy of the holistic form of medicine for pain, sports-related or not. A study conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine examined the use of acupuncture for osteoarthritis of the knee. The subjects experienced moderate to severe pain in spite of taking pain medication. Participants who received traditional acupuncture treatments had a significant reduction in discomfort and improvement in their ability to function, as compared to those in the control groups, who either received sham acupuncture or arthritis education.
It’s recommended that marathoners undergo acupuncture treatments prior to the race to address injuries and sore muscles that may have developed during training. Post-marathon acupuncture is just as important. Sessions are an excellent way to speed up recovery. If a pulled hamstring, muscle overuse, tears, swollen joints, or just plain exhaustion plague you after pounding the pavement around New York City, acupuncture can often prevent these issues from becoming chronic.
Studies that illuminate the incredible benefits of acupuncture, ranging from treating injuries to helping you perform at an optimal level, continue to surface regularly. Acupuncture is quickly gaining traction in mainstream medicine. Consider acupuncture to complete your marathon experience. However, be sure to find a licensed, qualified acupuncturist in your area for a safe and effective treatment.