Acupuncture for athletes
Acupuncture treatments for athletes in nyc
Increase Muscle Recovery Time and Performance
Whether you are a CrossFitter, weekend warrior, professional athlete, or you just love to exercise, you can benefit from adding acupuncture to your self-care routine. Read on to learn about some of the ways that acupuncture can help you to perform better and feel good while doing it.
Recover from DOMS Faster
DOMS stands for delayed onset muscle soreness and it’s the sore feeling you get when you’ve worked new muscles or pushed through a particularly challenging workout. It typically shows up one to two days after a tough workout and can take several days to go away; sometimes up to five days. It’s caused by microtears in your muscles and your body’s response to these micro-tears. Micro-tears are a normal and healthy part of building strength, but the soreness associated with DOMS can get in the way of training and just cause a lot of discomfort. While it’s not possible to completely eliminate DOMS, studies have shown that acupuncture helps to shorten the duration.1 Acupuncture works by sending improved circulation to affected muscle groups to accelerate healing. It also engages the “rest and digest” (or parasympathetic) state which helps direct the body to focus on internal healing. Electroacupuncture, a technique used frequently at Gotham Holistic Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, amplifies the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture. Acupuncture relieves pain both by triggering the release of natural painkillers like endorphins, and by regulating how the brain perceives pain. If you regularly experience DOMS, acupuncture can help you to keep moving through your training while feeling good.
Recover from Injuries, New and Old
Athletic performance is not the same thing as exercise for health. Sports typically require you to push your physical limits beyond what is necessary to maintain health. While any kind of physical activity provides a multitude of health benefits, pushing yourself to perform ever better in a specific way goes along with an increased risk of injury.
Regular acupuncture helps to minimize trigger points, adhesions, areas of tightness, and to improve range of motion. Not only does treating these issues help with athletic performance, but it also prevents injury as these issues can lead to poor body mechanics and overuse injuries.
If you do become injured, it’s important to get treated right away before it becomes a chronic issue. It’s similarly important to address any already-chronic conditions to minimize and prevent flare-ups, as well as to reverse any damage that has been done whenever possible.
Acupuncture is equipped to treat acute and chronic conditions. Unlike painkillers and corticosteroid shots, acupuncture aims to address the underlying causes of pain, and it doesn’t have the side effects that medications do. Additionally, acupuncture helps to cultivate a body-mind connection that can translate from the treatment table to your training.
Get Started With Acupuncture at Gotham Holistic Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine
Interested in learning how acupuncture can enhance your athletic performance?
Schedule your appointment online to meet with our licensed and experienced acupuncturist in NYC. We’ll go over your health history, current complaints, and health goals to determine your personalized treatment plan. You’ll have a chance to ask any questions you may have about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine works and how it can benefit you. Contact us today to learn about acupuncture for athletes!
Sources and Studies on Acupuncture for Athletes
- Chang WD, Chang NJ, Lin HY, Wu JH. Effects of Acupuncture on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020 Jun 27;2020:5864057. doi: 10.1155/2020/5864057. PMID: 32714410; PMCID: PMC7336216.
- Osborne NJ, Gatt IT. Management of shoulder injuries using dry needling in elite volleyball players. Acupunct Med. 2010 Mar;28(1):42-5. doi: 10.1136/aim.2009.001560. PMID: 20351377.
- Lee JW, Lee JH, Kim SY. Use of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Sports-Related Injuries in Athletes: A Systematic Review of Case Reports. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Nov 6;17(21):8226. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17218226. PMID: 33172218; PMCID: PMC7664377.
- Abe G.C., Yonamine B.T.S., Mello C.A.D.S., Ramos P.E., Conde M.S., Oliveira A.S.B. Acupuncture for Treating Persistent Pain in Brazilian Para-Athletes. Med Acupunct. 2014;26:50–56. doi: 10.1089/acu.2013.1014. 
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For more information or to book your appointment, call us at (646) 255-1332 or click the button below to book your appointment online.
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"I've been going to see Dr. Kristin for quite some time now due to back/neck issues I've been dealing with for years, and I must say - it really does work wonders! From my first consultation to every appointment in between, Dr. Kristin has been kind and always attentive to what aches and pains I have. She makes sure to target the areas that are hurting you, and constantly checks in on you / with you to make sure you are comfortable. I mean really, what more could you ask for?!"
- Nicole D.
"I've been going to Gotham Holistic and seeing Kristin Cheng, LAc for 3 years now, I highly recommend going to see her. She was highly attentive to me, my needs, and my comfort level. Quickly, I was put at ease by her attentive nature and able to be present when I did my first acupuncture consultation to the present day. I go here because Kristin Cheng is immensely skilled and so down to earth that I can digest her deep knowledge to make better health choices in my life."
- Jovon O.
"Kristin at Gotham Holistic is a wonderful professional who is focused on helping you manage pain and getting your body to work best for you. She is personally invested in your health and well-being and committed to working with you to get your body to where you'd like it to be. She is full of knowledge and looks to empower you to help your body heal. As a lifelong athlete I am so grateful I have found Kristin to help me work through injuries and keep my body in top shape to continue to train at a high level."
- Lisa L.
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