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If you’re an athlete, you know very well how annoying and scary an injury can be during a game. Most athletes will ice the injury and consume anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the pain and swelling. However, research conducted by the Academy of Sports Medicine indicates the potential of the overconsumption of anti-inflammatory drugs among athletes, which is leading to other conditions such as ulcers, internal bleeding, and kidney dysfunction. Although anti-inflammatory drugs can provide temporary relief, overconsumption could potentially impede the body’s natural ability to heal itself. However, there is a different approach to treating sports injuries that can allow the body to increase blood flow, stimulate nerve communication, and improve the body’s ability to heal faster. Acupuncture can help with more than pain relief by allowing energy to flow freely through pathways called meridians. By placing acupuncture needles in some of these pressure points and pathways, energy flow is increased and the body can heal faster.

If you are suffering from a sports injury recently, depending on your condition, Dr. Richard Ezgur, DC may be able to help you recover. Call Progressive Acupuncture Wellness Center in Chicago at (773) 786-9119 to schedule an appointment today.

Additionally, acupuncture can help with other conditions and chronic musculoskeletal issues such as tendonitis, bursitis, and arthritis. The response of many athletes who receive acupuncture therapy to treat their injuries is amazing. Many athletes who have experienced acute strains and sprains and sought acupuncture therapy as treatment have all felt the relief from pain as their bodies began to heal following treatment. Most report that they experience no upset stomach or jitters from acupuncture like they do from some anti-inflammatories.

For those interested in acupuncture as a treatment for your sports injuries, it is important to understand that results from acupuncture will vary, depending on your condition, and not all injuries can be treated with acupuncture. Also, some injuries make take longer to heal than others based on a person’s body and the function of their immune system.

Again, the point of acupuncture is to increase blood flow to improve energy flow in and around the injured areas. Energy is the primary factor in healing, so increasing the energy flow in the body also increases the body’s ability to heal naturally. As any athlete knows, energy is also the key component to succeeding in their respective sport. The more energy an athlete has, the better they can perform, and acupuncture can also be considered an energy enhancer since its aim is to increase energy and blood flow.

Once more, if you are thinking of pursuing acupuncture to treat a sports injury, it is important to understand that it is not for everyone. Results may vary. Acupuncture has been known to treat the following conditions:

• Acute strains and sprains
• Acute and chronic arthritis
• Tendonitis and bursitis
• Low back pain
• Low energy

If you are suffering from a sports injury recently, depending on your condition, Dr. Richard Ezgur, DC may be able to help you recover. Call Progressive Acupuncture Wellness Center in Chicago at (773) 786-9119 to schedule an appointment today.