What are sports injuries?
Sports injuries are musculoskeletal injuries that tend to happen during physical activity. Some of these injuries happen very suddenly, such as a sprained ankle, often because of improper technique or footwork. Others develop slowly with time as you overuse specific joints or muscle groups.
Some common examples of sports injuries are:
- Stress fractures
- Achilles tendonitis
- Sprained ankle
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Jumper’s knee
- Meniscus tear
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
- Rotator cuff tears
- Bone fractures
- Joint dislocations
Even after an initial injury heals, you may experience long-lasting musculoskeletal pain. Dr. Leddy customizes your treatment to address your pain and promote healing.
What are common signs of a sports injury?
Though diverse, sports injuries share many common symptoms and outward signs. While a physical exam and possible imaging tests can confirm your exact diagnosis, you’ll notice initial indications of an injury, such as:
- Pain, aching, or tenderness
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Reduced range of motion
- Trouble bearing weight on the injured body part
- Stiffness
- Weakness
- Cracking or grinding noises
- Visible deformity
Severe sports injuries may require surgery or other medical interventions to heal properly. If you have a minor injury, or if you’ve completed surgery for a sports injury, acupuncture can support the healing process.
How do acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine treat sports injuries?
Elemental Acupuncture provides personalized care for sports injuries using traditional Chinese techniques, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine.
Acupuncture treats injuries and pain by using fine needles to target specific points along energy lines called meridians. Any disruption in the flow of energy along these meridians can result in long-lasting pain, but acupuncture can restore the flow to alleviate pain. Acupuncture also promotes blood flow, reduces inflammation, and supports the healing process.
Additional treatments like moxibustion and cupping therapy increase blood flow and reduce soreness while also promoting immunity. Beyond these treatments, Dr. Leddy may recommend specific herbal supplements to promote healing and pain reduction.
To find out how acupuncture can help you heal from a sports injury of any kind, call the friendly office staff at Elemental Acupuncture or use the online booking tool today.
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