Running can put a lot of stress and mileage on the body, making it vulnerable to injury. Acupuncture, a form of alternative medicine rooted in Chinese tradition, not only helps alleviate runners’ aches and pains, but also promotes overall better health and wellness. Below are three ways runners can benefit from this practice of inserting thin needles into the body at pressure points.

How Acupuncture Can Enhance a Runner’s Performance

1. Improves Sleep

Sleep plays a crucial role in resting tired muscles and maintaining a healthy body. Let’s face it, runner or not, many people have a hard time getting enough sleep at night. Improved sleep is considered a top benefit of acupuncture. It can address the issues underlying your sleeping problems and help your body tap into its energy resources. Better sleep means better performance when you hit the pavement.

2. Promotes Healing

Acupuncture promotes blood flow to injured muscles and other tissues, thereby speeding up the healing process. It also helps reduce inflammation and improve circulation. This, in turn, helps prevent future injuries to your knees, legs, and feet. That means you can expect improved performance to follow every time you undergo an acupuncture treatment.

3. Boosts the Immune System

Intense training for a big running event such as a marathon can wear your body down and make you more susceptible to viruses. Several research studies, including one published in the March 2011 issue of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, indicate that acupuncture improves immune function by stimulating natural killer (NK) cells in the body. Having acupuncture treatments during periods of training can help keep you from getting sidelined with cold or other illness.  

If you’re a runner who’s looking for a natural way of achieving pain relief, better sleep, and overall better performance, turn to Marie Gonzales, L.Ac. for acupuncture and other holistic therapy services, including cupping therapy and foot detox treatments. Founder Marie A. Gonzales was trained at the prestigious Tri-State College of Acupuncture and has been in practice for more than 20 years. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit her website or call (845) 398-1312.