Acupuncture Treatment for Runners
Runners experience physical fatigue and damage differently from regular people. The constant activity, strain, and impacts on muscles when running can lead to injuries. In fact, most runners are well aware of running injuries, as they occur fairly often with overexertion. Most running injuries heal by themselves over time, while others require rehabilitation and even surgery. Either way, an injury can keep you off your feet for long periods of time, which is the last thing you want as a runner.
Benefits of Acupuncture for Runners
In order to speed up the recovery process, many runners seek out alternative treatments. One of the most beneficial alternative treatments for runners is acupuncture. While it is not often considered, acupuncture can do everything from preventing to treating injuries while addressing other factors that affect runners. At Gainesville Holistic Healthcare, our acupuncture specialist can help get you back to running and keep you there.
Prevention of Injuries
Apart from accelerating recovery, acupuncture can also effectively prevent injuries. Constant training takes a toll on the body, affecting areas such as the back, hips, and legs. If a muscle, ligament, or tendon is strained, overexertion can easily cause an injury. Acupuncture treatment is able to get deep into the muscle, allowing for relaxation and increased flexibility of the muscle, ligament, or tendon. This reduces the stress placed on the tissue when running and decreases the likelihood of sprains and tears.
Improved Sleep
Getting a good night’s rest is critical for runners, as it allows for proper recovery. Unfortunately, many people suffer from chronic insomnia and are unable to get the amount of sleep they need. Lack of sleep can also lead to longer periods of soreness, decreased energy, and higher susceptibility to injury. Clinical studies have shown that acupuncture can be an effective way of treating sleep-related issues for improved quality of sleep, and unlike sleeping pills, acupuncture treats the root of the problem.
Correction of Muscle Imbalances
When muscles are imbalanced, they can cause pain and complications in other areas of the body. For example, an imbalanced muscle in the foot can lead to joint and tendon pain around the knee. In order for your body to perform optimally, every muscle in the body should be working properly. Acupuncture corrects these imbalances by stimulating segments of muscles to either relax or tighten as needed.
Promote Healing & Recovery
An important factor for proper and rapid healing is improved blood circulation. Blood contains healing and growth factors that are imperative for a speedy recovery. The more blood an injured area can receive, the better. Acupuncture promotes circulation when fine needles are inserted to target the specific areas of injury. A Gainesville acupuncture specialist can help you treat common runner injuries that cause foot pain.
Acupuncture Clinic in Gainesville, FL, for Runners
Acupuncture treatment can be used to alleviate a wide variety of symptoms. Since acupuncture aims to restore balance in the whole body, it can offer additional benefits when treating a specific ailment. Acupuncture is known to strengthen the immune system, reduce stress and improve levels of energy. The best part about it, it uses the body’s own healing factors so it is completely natural and safe unlike medications. If you are searching for acupuncturists in Gainesville, FL, who can treat runners, contact Gainesville Holistic Healthcare today.