06/05/2018
Acupuncture & Musculoskeletal injuries
Musculoskeletal disorders respond very well to acupuncture which is why ACC will help cover the cost of acupuncture treatments for an injury. Carefully placed acupuncture needles can relax tight muscles, nourish and repair tendons, and reduce inflammation by stimulating your body’s own natural healing and repair mechanisms. It works beyond simple pain control.
Acupuncture can benefit musculoskeletal injuries by:
• Accelerating healing: Acupuncture increases blood flow to an injured area, the insertion of an Acupuncture needle initiates an immune response in the body, this causes an increase in blood flow as the bodies resources are stimulated to that area to investigate/rectify the cause.
• Reducing pain: Acupuncture stimulates the release of the body’s natural pain killers [endorphins and opioids] and interrupts pain signals. This is due to Acupuncture’s ability to stimulate nerve fibres causing the release of analgesic [pain relieving] substances and disrupting the pain feedback loop.
• Speeding up recovery time: Acupuncture increases micro circulation in the limbs by initiating an immune response in the body which causes the body to release Histamine which causes blood vessels to become more permeable: Poor circulation causes tight muscles which takes longer to recover and tire easier.
• Increases energy: Acupuncture speeds up metabolic processes assisting metabolism, allowing your body to draw more nutrients from your food. Helping to utilise the food you eat more efficiently, to increase stamina and endurance.
• Reduces inflammation: Allowing for improved circulation and blood flow prevents chronic inflammation from developing and, potentially, a chronic injury from forming. One of the mechanisms through which this occurs is that Acupuncture stimulates the release of a natural compound called Adenosine which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
• Reduces muscular tension: An injury causes muscles in the surrounding area to tighten and constrict, guarding the injury site. Acupuncture stimulates the nerves involved in contracting and relaxing muscle fibres, thus stimulating muscles to release on a deeper level, reducing residue tension and increasing range of motion.
Tuina Massage & Musculoskeletal injuries
Massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissues of the body - muscles, connective tissues, tendons and ligaments - to benefit the nervous and muscular systems and connective tissues, and to enhance the circulation of blood and lymph.
Massage may help people who want to:
• Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
• Improve range of motion.
• Prepare for and recover from sports events or training.
• Lessen anxiety or depression.
• Reduce post-surgery adhesion's and swelling.
• Recover from injuries.
• Manage or improve chronic conditions.
Tuina Massage is often used in combination with cupping, moxibustion, and Gua sha.
Both Acupuncture and Tuina are often combined into a single treatment, as this combination works effectively.
The objective of the combined treatment is to stimulate blood flow to sore or injured areas, which helps to initiate a healing effect within that particular area; while simultaneously providing pain relief, releasing tension & reducing inflammation. Stimulating injuries to heal effectively the first time, reducing the chance of this reoccurring.
People often experience niggly injuries that come and go during life, hence the importance of addressing injuries properly when they first arise. Unfortunately the longer things are left the longer they will take to resolve, the body is a 'creature of habit' and requires more encouragement as time progresses.
