More and more athletes all over the world are turning to acupuncture to help with their injuries and overall athletic performance. According to acupuncturist Marie Gonzales, L.Ac., based in Nyack, NY, there is good reason for this dramatic increase. Acupuncture is a natural treatment that promotes health and well-being by targeting specific points to stimulate nerves and activate chemicals that help the body naturally heal.   

Below are some of the ways acupuncture treatment improves the lives of athletes:

• Decreases Healing Times: For athletes, an injury can derail their workout routine, so having the best modalities for healing is imperative. The main goal of acupuncture is to unblock pathways in the body so energy (Qi) flows freely. In more scientific terms, when acupuncture points are activated, they release nitric oxide, which, in turn, causes blood vessels in the arteries to open up and increases the blood flow to the heart and organs. This improvement in circulation allows the body to balance and heal itself at a much quicker rate. For this reason, more sports trainers recommend acupuncture for dealing with maladies like frozen shoulders, pulled tendons, and even back pain.
• Provides Pain Relief: Acupuncture treatment not only helps athletes heal from injuries quicker, but it can also be useful for dealing with the resulting pain. The World Health Organization has even compared acupuncture therapy’s effectiveness with that of morphine. The difference between the two is acupuncture is a natural pain reliever and causes the body to release chemicals like endorphins, which are neurotransmitters that interact with receptors in the brain to block pain. This can be beneficial to athletes, who might prefer to avoid pain medications that could actually exacerbate the injury, become addictive, or have other unpleasant side effects.
• Enhances Athletic Performance: Many of the important acupuncture points are locations where the nerve actually energizes the surrounding muscles. The needles are inserted into these various sites while the athlete is in the midst of a heavy training schedule, and it emulates the effects of massage and physical therapy. This helps them quickly recover from muscle fatigue or inflammation and continue to improve and prepare their body for the upcoming season.

If you are an athlete and would like to learn more about how acupuncture can help you, contact Marie Gonzales, L.Ac., today. She has treated thousands of individuals during her 20 years of practice. To schedule an appointment with this acupuncturist, call (845) 398-1312. You can also visit her website for more information about her services.