Acupuncture for Athletes and Their Injuries

Did you know that acupuncture – a 2,500 year old system of medicine founded in China – can assist you with your athletic performance and any injuries endured while training and competing?

Yes, it can according to current research and thousands of Americans who try acupuncture each year and who can attest to its benefits.

Acupuncture, a complimentary form of medicine that is increasing in popularity and use, involves the insertion of tiny, hair-like needles into the skin to balance the body and improve overall health and well-being.

Acupuncture works through the stimulation of specific points on the body located on meridians or pathways. When these energetic pathways are blocked, the result is imbalance, illness and pain. Stimulation of acupuncture points improves both energy flow and blood circulation, improves energy levels and also provides relief from pain. “The brain is stimulated to release endorphins and trigger the immune system to help injuries heal. If done when an injury is “fresh,” acupuncture can significantly reduce recovery time. “¹

During a treatment, an acupuncturist may place the needles in the location of the pain or injury, or he or she may choose to place the needles distally – in another area of the body. For example, needles may be placed at the wrists to heal an injury of the foot. This style of treatment is especially beneficial for an ankle sprain where directly needling a swollen or inflamed area might be painful. Acupuncture also builds energy in the body to assist in recovery after training or competing.

Acupuncture is part of a broader system of Traditional Chinese Medicine that involves needling, as well as the use of Chinese herbs (both internally and topically), and electro-acupuncture (electro-stimulation) whereby cords are attached to the needles and electrical current sends “pulses” to muscle fibers to move energy, relieve blood stagnation and thus, relieve pain.

Research shows strong evidence that acupuncture alleviates pain in many places in the body and specifically in the back, knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists and neck. For runners and cyclists, acupuncture can be used to treat fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tight tendons, ankle sprains, shin splints, sciatica and planter’s fasciitis to name a few ailments.  Acupuncture received on a regular basis – once a week – for example can assist in preventing injury due to overuse of muscles, tendons and ligaments.

“Treating sport injuries with TCM and acupuncture, instead of conventional treatments such as ultrasound and interferential/electrotherapy, is now routine, rather than a novelty.”²

In recent years, acupuncture has been used by many well-known professional marathoners, and baseball, basketball and tennis players. And so, next time you experience fatigue or an injury or would like to improve performance; acupuncture can assist you in getting ready for your next race!

If you would like to explore acupuncture and the healing that it can offer, we welcome you to visit our website to learn more: http://cnyhealingarts.com, we have locations in Syracuse, Albany and Rochester, NY.

Written by:
Shelley Szymko-Carroll, L.Ac.
email sszymko-carroll@cnyhealingarts.com
2244 East Ave, Rochester, NY
Phone 585.244.1280

 

¹ Runner’s World, January 1, 2007. Can Acupuncture heal an injury?

²Journal of Chinese Medicine, Sports Injuries and TCM, Young, Kevin, Number 78, June 2005.

Fertility Book Reviews to Celebrate National Infertility Awareness Week 2010

In an effort to celebrate National Fertility Awareness Week from April 24th through May 1st, the following two book reviews provide some great reading and education on the subject of fertility. The titles, Taking Charge of Your Fertility, and The Infertility Cure, assist women with one of the most important wishes that many women have – to be fertile, conceive and have children.

Taking Charge of Your Fertility, The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler, MPH.  Harper Collins Publishers. Her website is: www.TCOYF.com ISBN: 978-0-06-088190-0 -
This book is available online, click here to visit our Webstore.

Taking Charge of Your Fertility (TCOYF), by Toni Weschler, presents a clear explanation of a woman’s menstrual cycle and teaches strategies to achieve pregnancy by using the reproductive program that she developed called the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM). Toni Weschler explains the three key factors relevant for any woman who wants to learn about her fertile time each month. This entails: 1) taking her waking body temperature, 2) checking her cervical fluid, and 3) checking the position of her cervix on a daily basis.

The Fertility Awareness Method allows a woman the opportunity to understand her “personal data” so that she can determine when she may ovulate and thus, know when she is most fertile so that she can try to conceive at that time. Ms. Weschler shows how to take a woman’s waking temperature known as Basal Body Temperature (BBT) – the first step in FAM – and how to chart it over a month’s time. Weschler displays this method with extensive charts so that anyone wishing to learn this method may do so easily. Ms. Weschler also provides photos and descriptions of cervical fluid and cervixes (steps 2 and 3 of this method) to show women the changes they go through on a monthly basis.

Although the title itself and FAM may be most applicable to women who want to become pregnant, FAM is also effective in allowing women to know their fertile time to avoid becoming pregnant. Thus, it truly is a book about “taking charge” to achieve the outcome of making a conscious choice to become pregnant or not.

The Infertility Cure, The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies, by Randine Lewis, Ph.D. Little, Brown & Company Publishers. Her website is: www.TheFertileSoul.com. ISBN: 978-0-316-15921-2 This book is available online, click here to visit our Webstore.

Our second book on fertility is The Infertility Cure, by Randine Lewis, Ph. D. In this book, Dr. Lewis reveals how she uses Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as an acupuncturist and herbologist to assist women in becoming fertile. She uses an integrative approach of Eastern and Western medicine. Her protocol is called The Fertile Soul Method that employs acupuncture, Chinese herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements and daily yoga practice to achieve optimal fertility. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) may be used in conjunction with her program. She recommends her method for women and their partners for a 90-day period before attempting to conceive. Dr. Lewis also offers hope through the use of treatment strategies to overcome some of the toughest diagnoses in fertility: endometriosis and fibroid tumors, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure (POF) and “unexplained infertility.” Dr. Lewis shares numerous case studies of women and couples whom she has treated who conceived and now have children. In many instances, these couples had been trying to conceive for years, or they may have been told that they would not be able to conceive.

These two well-written books dealing with issues of fertility will educate and perhaps inspire you to recommend them to other women trying to conceive. Each book has a slightly different focus: Taking Charge is thorough and educational and teaches a woman to understand the fertility signs of own her body, instills confidence in doing so, and allows her the opportunity to choose if and when she wishes to conceive. The Infertility Cure is designed for women to become educated in a wholistic approach to fertility, to become pregnant, and have healthy babies. Both books are a “good, easy read” and ultimately, go “hand in hand.”

We carry both books at all CNY Healing Arts locations in the retail areas as well as online at our webstore. Please ask for either book title the next time you stop in!

Shelley Szymko-Carroll, L.Ac., treats women for fertility and pregnancy at Rochester CNY Healing Arts. She uses an integrative approach through use of the Fertility Awareness Method and the Fertile Soul Method developed by these two authors. Please e–mail her with any questions at: Sszymko-carroll@cnyhealingarts.com.

Building Energy with Chinese Qi Gong

Building Energy with Chinese Qi Gong is taught at our Rochester CNY Healing Arts Center by licensed acupuncturist, Shelley Szymko-Carroll. The class is offered on Thursdays in the yoga room from 4:45 – 5:45 p.m.

Qi Gong (pronounced “chee gong”) is an integrated mind-body method of movement developed in China several thousand years ago. It is the practice of doing gentle movements with focus on the inhalations and exhalations of breath to achieve a state of improved health, relaxation and vitality. The word “Qi” means “energy” and “Gong” represents “skill “or “work.” So, we can think of Qi Gong as “energy work.” Based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Qi Gong is beneficial to maintain good health or to cure disease. Qi Gong, when combined with acupuncture or Chinese herbs, is highly effective in healing very complicated health concerns with this multi-dimensional approach.

The benefits of practicing Qi Gong include:

• increased physical energy
• a more focused and relaxed mind
• improved blood  and energy flow to the pelvic region
• increased circulation and warmth
• improved metabolism and improvement in digestion
• relief of pain
• deeper, more restful sleep

Qi Gong may be practiced as a group (in a class setting) which is especially important when starting to practice it, or the movements or postures (a similar term used in yoga) can be done at home independently after initial instruction. Daily practice takes no more than 10 minutes.  A major health concern may be addressed by practicing specific therapeutic exercises for an additional 20 to 30 minutes several times per week. Many of the exercises are done while standing, although some are done sitting. Visualization techniques and meditation are also a part of Qi Gong practice.

Health concerns that Qi Gong can address are:

• female and male infertility
• pain , including arthritic pain
• high blood pressure
• headaches
• insomnia
• depression, stress and or anxiety
• cancer (when used in conjunction with modern medicine)

There is a great deal of experiential evidence and clinical research in the United States and abroad that attests to the benefits of Qi Gong. Now may be the time to look at a new method of healing for a particular health concern for which you would like to heal!

*Feel free to reach Shelley regarding any Qi Gong questions at: sszymko-carroll@cnyhealingarts.com