The young woman was coming from sea level, but was fit and had never had trouble with altitude before. She would say that many times over the next few days. She seemed OK at the welcome dinner in Redstone, Colorado, at 7,185 feet, opening the annual photo camp then held by Rock and Ice magazine, where I was working.

But the next day as we all headed up to a campground above the town of Basalt at 8,000-plus feet, she threw up out my car window.

I offered to take her back down to our offices in Carbondale, which is at 6,200 feet, but she shook her head vigorously no. Our group all hiked up to a cliff, and later, on the way down the steep trail, the student collapsed into my arms. It took two of us to guide her to the road. Still she refused my entreaties to go to the hospital or come to Carbondale overnight. She had a dismal time of it before feeling better a day or two later.

It turned out that, upon arrival in Denver, the young woman had immediately hiked a 14er, I think Mount Elbert, because she was excited to arrive. But she paid the price, oh she paid.

While I now live at altitude, I experienced sleeplessness, tinnitus, and breathlessness when first moving to the area. Those were mild annoyances, but I鈥檝e seen some things go pretty south. Once my elderly stepfather, who had a heart condition, spent Christmas in the ER and came back to the family鈥檚 rental house toting oxygen. Another time I was at a wedding in Boulder where a bridesmaid keeled over right in the middle of the ceremony, having come from sea level鈥nd being dehydrated鈥nd hungover. The young-adult son of a friend came to Vail, got drunk, sat in a hot tub (yes, they dehydrate you, too), and had to be airlifted out. (The bridesmaid and the guy were both fine.)

After the incident at the photo camp, I wrote up a list of altitude-sickness prevention tips for students and other visitors to our area.

As summer kicks in, with visitors coming to my house and tourists traveling to mountain towns all over, I decided to update the list, and contacted Peter Hackett, M.D., an E.R. doctor and . Hackett has treated patients and gathered research at the clinic known as 鈥�14鈥� (for 14,000 feet) on Denali, in Alaska, and in the mountains of Nepal, also at 14,000 feet. (He climbed Everest in 1981, going solo from the South Col to the summit.) In 2009, he founded the Institute for Altitude Medicine at the Telluride Medical Center, in Telluride, Colorado, heading it up until 2015.

He also has another gig, as it were. In 2006, when the Rolling Stones played in Mexico City, at 7,350 feet, they felt the altitude. Hackett, as an expert, was flown in for a consultation; he and Mick Jagger hit it off. Since then, he says, 鈥淚鈥檝e toured with them for 18 years鈥� as the band鈥檚 physician, in his capacity as an ER doctor. Tours are intermittent, lasting perhaps two months, and then he can return home to Ridgway, Colorado, where he .

Word, it seems, gets around among rock stars. I reached Hackett by WhatsApp while he was at a stadium in Madrid, there as touring physician with Bruce Springsteen. He was back stateside the following week in time for the Stones concert in Denver.

As many of you will be traveling from sea level to the mountains this summer to hike, bike, and have fun (and later will travel to them to ski, snowboard, and have fun), here鈥檚 our advice on how to fend off altitude sickness.

What Is Altitude Sickness?

In traveling upward from sea level, you encounter thinner air, with effects typically appearing between about 5,000 and 7,000 feet. The lower atmospheric pressure means breathing brings in less oxygen, because less is available. Especially above 8,000 feet, if your body has not had time to adjust, you may experience signs of altitude sickness. The effects are much more significant the higher you go, can be extremely dangerous, and must be heeded, but at moderate altitudes are usually preventable.

Hypoxia is low levels of blood oxygen from going to altitude, and just about everyone experiences some effect, such as shortness of breath, pounding heart, and/or trouble sleeping.

Secondary to hypoxia, and caused by it, is altitude sickness, the result of going high without having time to adjust (given time, the body can adjust to moderate hypoxia). Altitude sickness occurs more gradually, generally taking hours (though you can bring it on almost immediately if you step off a plane and fire up a Colorado 14er). It has three types, known as AMS, HAPE, and HACE. AMS and HACE involve the brain, and HAPE the lungs.

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the most common and mildest, and may be characterized by headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and sleeplessness. It feels exactly like a bad hangover, Dr. Hackett says, and 鈥渘early always鈥� resolves in two to four days or less on its own, often within 24 hours if the person ascends no further and exerts little. Go no higher until you are better, and while you can always go lower, it is usually not necessary. Descend or get medical help if you become worse instead of better over one or two days.

In high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), fluid accumulates in the lungs, inhibiting the transfer of oxygen into the blood. HAPE is separate from AMS, involving the lungs, although Hackett says that 50 percent of those with HAPE had AMS first. AMS can, however, develop into the severe high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), creating swelling in the brain, with effects as if a person is drunk, such as confusion, disorientation, and loss of consciousness. HAPE and HACE can develop over two or three days.

鈥淗ACE can be considered the end-stage of severe AMS,鈥� Hackett says. He also says that AMS 鈥渨ill rarely progress to HACE, especially at the modest altitude of Colorado resorts.鈥� These resort towns, like many in the country, are at about 6,000 to 10,000 feet.

HAPE and HACE are life-threatening medical emergencies necessitating treatment and descent.

鈥淪omeone with AMS who stays at the same altitude and gets better will not get HAPE,鈥� he says. 鈥淪omeone with AMS who goes higher when they shouldn鈥檛 will get worse with AMS and could also develop HACE or HAPE.鈥�

Some persons are sensitive to hypoxia and can either feel the effects or get AMS as low as at a sleeping altitude of 5,000 feet, though that is unusual. 鈥淎t 6,000 to 7,000 feet, it happens more but is still unusual,鈥� Hackett says. 鈥淢aybe [to] 10 percent of folks. At 8,000 feet, most everyone feels some effect of hypoxia, like trouble sleeping and shortness of breath with exercise, and about 15 to 20 percent of unacclimatized persons will get AMS.鈥� A sleeping altitude of 9,000 feet is considered a major threshold, he says, and persons going directly to that have an incidence of more than 50 percent of AMS.

Pay attention! Communicate all symptoms to your group, know where a hospital or clinic is, and have a way to get down or a descent route in mind.

At What Altitude Might I Get Altitude Sickness?

Denver, at 5,280 feet (it鈥檚 the Mile High City), is a good example of the 5,000-foot mark at which people may exhibit symptoms or should observe how they feel. The city has an international airport and is a launching point for various higher towns that range from, say, nearby fun Boulder at 5,430 up to Leadville, at 10,158 feet the country鈥檚 highest incorporated city. Vail, 97 miles up I-70, is at 8,239 feet; Aspen, 160 miles away, at 7,908 feet; and Crested Butte, 8,909.

Other such outdoors towns across the country include Park City, Utah, at 6,936 feet; Big Bear Lake and Mammoth Lakes, California, at 6,752 and 7881; Pinedale, Wyoming, at 7,182; Victor, Idaho, at 6,214; and Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico, at 7,199 and 9,321 feet. And consider surroundings: Salt Lake City is not terribly high at 4,327, but people fly in to ski and might take the tram up Hidden Peak, at Snowbird. It docks at 11,000 feet.

Who Does Altitude Sickness Affect?

A common misperception is that fitness protects you from altitude sickness. It can affect anyone, at any age or stage of fitness and athleticism. Sometimes you might feel fine at altitude, other times not, depending on whether you鈥檝e acclimated or pushed too hard and/or overindulged in alcohol.

Below is my original altitude tips list, updated with Hackett鈥檚 comments and clarifications. The conversation and this article use Denver as a model.

How to Avoid Altitude Sickness

1. Hydrate throughout your trip. Take a water bottle everywhere.听

As you go high, your blood oxygen level drops and respiration goes up, and you lose water at an increased rate. Conventional wisdom has long been to drink lots of water when you travel from sea level to anything starting at about 5,000 feet. Many or most visitors need to make a conscious effort. Just don’t take it too far.

Hackett says: 鈥淭here鈥檚 no science to support [that drinking water prevents AMS], but a lot of anecdotal evidence. In mountain environments, you do need to drink extra water, but it depends on what you鈥檙e doing鈥濃�攂oth effort and temperature. 鈥淥n Denali it鈥檚 cold, and you鈥檙e not sweating, so you don鈥檛 need as much [as in a hot place].

鈥淭he point is not to overdo it. If you鈥檙e in Aspen [at approximately 8,000 feet], have an extra liter or liter and a half a day. The danger is that people over hydrate and wash out their sodium. They get hyponatremia, or low sodium, from a lot of water.鈥� Hyponatremia is dangerous and needs to be treated.

Keep an eye on your urine and try to keep it clear or pale yellow as opposed to darker or orange.

Bottom line: 鈥淏e moderate,鈥� Hackett says. 鈥淛ust like at sea level, drink more if you鈥檙e hiking hard, but you don鈥檛 need too much extra.鈥�

2. Drink little or no alcohol on the trip. Ban that second margarita!

Alcohol increases dehydration and hampers ventilatory adaptation to hypoxia. 听

Hackett confirms that, saying, 鈥淭he science is that ingestions of about 50 grams of alcohol will lower your breathing response to hypoxia. One beer or one margarita is not going to make much difference,鈥� but stick with that 鈥渦ntil you get acclimated, which takes two or three to four days.鈥�

The is a little sterner, advising: 鈥淒o not drink alcohol or do heavy exercise for at least the first 48 hours after you arrive at an elevation above 8,000 feet.鈥�

3. Give yourself time to acclimate. Try to arrive in a lower site a day early and take it easy, remaining at a constant elevation, overnight if possible, before going higher.

Hackett clarifies that the concept of stopping in an interim place like Denver applies to some but not all people: 鈥淎s long as they don鈥檛 fly into Aspen and go higher, they are probably OK,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f [someone is] concerned because of pre-existing conditions or has a baby or is pregnant鈥t鈥檚 always better to spend a night in Denver.鈥� Always consider pre-existing conditions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 super important to take it easy the next day, don鈥檛 drink much [alcohol], and hydrate a little more than usual. The single most important thing is not to fly into Aspen and go higher. That鈥檚 definitely high risk.鈥�

Another option might be to fly into Aspen at 8,000 feet but spend the first night in a lower spot such as Glenwood Springs, 40 miles away and 2,000 feet lower.

鈥淐oming into Aspen, 85 percent of people will be fine and about 15 percent will get headaches,鈥� Hackett says. 鈥淚f they fly into Aspen and go to Ashcroft [9,521 feet] to sleep, 60 to 70 percent will get headaches. Go up gradually.鈥�

The CDC similarly advises: 鈥淎void traveling from a low elevation to an elevation higher than 9,000 feet (2,750 m) above sea level in one day.鈥�听

Some sources advise the tactic of day trips to higher elevations, while sleeping lower. As above, if you begin to feel ill, stay put or descend.

4. Talk to your doctor about bringing a prescription drug such as Diamox in case of need. Also consider bringing aspirin or ibuprofen in case of headache.

鈥淚 support all those,鈥� Hackett says. 鈥淭he problem is your average doctor doesn鈥檛 know much about Diamox. Doctors are very reluctant to prescribe a medicine they are unfamiliar with, but it鈥檚 good to know there is something that helps. It does not mask the symptoms, it speeds up acclimatization. So instead of three or four days it takes one day.鈥�

Talk to your doctor. Did you expect us to say anything else?

5. Insomnia blues, or what if I can鈥檛 sleep at altitude?

The top complaint of those going to altitude, and one I experienced when first in Aspen (I later moved to nearby Carbondale), is sleeplessness, from the effect of hypoxia on the brain.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no way to prevent it,鈥� Hackett says. 鈥淥xygen is available鈥� to address it, 鈥渁nd they can deliver it to a hotel room. Any doctor can write a prescription for it, and you鈥檒l sleep like a baby.鈥� He later adds in an email: 鈥淪leeping on oxygen will help with sleep, prevent altitude illness, and protect anyone with preexisting problems like high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, lung disease, etc.鈥�

He says further: 鈥淭hings that are known to be safe [sleep aids] include Benadryl and Dramamine. You don’t want to take [medications] that might depress your breathing and mix them with alcohol. Diamox can be helpful since it stimulates breathing and raises oxygen levels.

鈥淎 lot of people sleeping at altitude will have some irregular breathing at night. It鈥檚 not anything to worry about. It improves with acclimatization.鈥�

6. Resources to learn more about altitude sickness.

One of the links I suggested nine years ago, a from the Denver Post, has been updated, as an editor鈥檚 note says: 鈥渢o reflect that people should not drink excessive amounts of water.鈥�

Here are other resources.

The 鈥渕ythbusters鈥� of Hackett鈥檚 website

Wilderness Medical Society:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: and听

UptoDate.com:

No longer being updated but still considered expert and useful:

7. Pay attention to red flags

While the woman at the photo workshop was a tricky situation鈥攕he was an adult, who had paid and wanted to learn鈥擨 always wondered if I should have insisted on taking her lower. I offered repeatedly to drive her to the hospital, or for her at least to stay at my home in Carbondale. She said no. Was I wrong to accede? A worse result would haunt me. I asked Hackett.

Only a few red flags, he said, mandate immediate descent or oxygen. He listed them in an email: 鈥淩espiratory distress (鈥楯ust can鈥檛 get enough air,鈥� or obvious trouble breathing), and the brain going off (confusion, disorientation, can鈥檛 walk a straight line). Vomiting is not a red flag, nor is 鈥榗ollapsing鈥� unless into unconsciousness.鈥�

Guess I can breathe easier, at least about that time.

Alison Osius is a senior editor at 国产吃瓜黑料, who formerly worked at Rock and Ice and Climbing magazines. The highest she has been is 14,000 feet, and she doesn鈥檛 plan on going any higher.听听

For more by this author, see:

Colorado’s Storm King Mountain Memorial Trail Takes You to Sacred Grounds

This Is the Most Beautiful Town in Colorado

Must-Know Camping Tips from a Lifelong Camper

The post Don鈥檛 Let Altitude Sickness Ruin Your Mountain Vacation. Heed This Doctor鈥檚 Tips to Avoid It. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

For years, I鈥檝e viewed kinesiology tape鈥攖hose brightly colored stripes you see on the legs and shoulders of athletes鈥攁s nothing more than snake oil, something people used for show without any real benefits. All my experiences with athletic tape involved protecting an injured joint by tightly wrapping and immobilizing it. I was skeptical that a few strips of tape on the skin could do much.

I hadn鈥檛, however, actually used the product. So when I was invited to attend a summit to learn the science behind a new kinesiology tape product and try it out, I eagerly accepted the invite. As someone deeply passionate about running, climbing, and skiing, and having seen many pro-level athletes embrace the tape, I was intrigued to personally discover if there was substance behind the hype or if it was merely smoke and mirrors, as I had previously believed.

KT Tape funded the travel for this review, but our opinions are our own. If you click or buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

What is Kinesiology Tape?

Kinesiology tape is a stretchy, elastic cotton strip with an adhesive backing. I learned it is designed to replicate the elasticity and thickness of human skin, offering support, stability, and pain relief while allowing free movement. It is most commonly used by athletes and physical therapists to aid in the treatment of muscle and joint injuries and enhance performance by reducing inflammation and improving circulation.

When applied correctly, kinesiology tape lifts the skin, decompressing the fascia and allowing lymphatic fluid to drain rather than build up. Blockage of lymphatic fluid can cause swelling and pain. Lifting the skin and opening up blood flow also facilitates the transport of white blood cells to the area, thus reducing harmful bacteria and waste products from cells and tissues.

When I looked at the scientific literature on kinesiology tape, I found the evidence mixed. While some studies suggest that it may provide benefits such as pain relief, improved muscle function, and reduced swelling, other research indicates that its effects may be no different from a placebo.

One found its benefits trivial, citing it “may have a small beneficial role in improving strength and range of motion in certain injured cohorts,鈥� but went on to say that further studies are needed to confirm these findings. Another , this one in 2015, found applying kinesiology tape was 鈥渟uperior to minimal intervention for pain relief,鈥� (or, put another way, better than doing nothing) but concluded it was not better than other treatments to reduce pain. This ambiguity only reinforced my skepticism, but also increased my interest in why the tape has become so popular.

How I Tested KT Ice Pro Tape

The summit, held in Park City, Utah, centered around the launch of , a new kinesiology tape infused with cooling menthol. Menthol, a compound available in both natural and synthetic forms, reduces pain sensation when applied to the skin by creating a cooling effect. KT Tape Pro Ice incorporates menthol into its adhesive, providing the dual benefits of kinesiology tape and pain-numbing menthol.

The event planners鈥� strategy was to spend time working out鈥攕kiing and snowshoeing鈥攖o induce muscle soreness and fatigue, then use KT Tape Pro Ice to alleviate that soreness and any accompanying pains. Doubtful that the menthol-infused version would make any difference, I was in for a surprise.

KT Tape Pro Ice

As an avid runner, I frequently deal with nagging aches and injuries. Currently, I’ve been grappling with a persistent Achilles injury, which鈥攄espite using topical pain relievers, seeing physical therapists, and even considering surgery鈥攈as been an issue for several years. I was hopeful that Pro Ice might help. I have Haglund’s deformity, a large bump on the back of my heel that, when pressure is applied, swells and causes pain. Since ski boots fit tightly, I鈥檓 usually in pain immediately following a day of skiing. This time was no exception. We were slated to go snowshoeing the night after skiing, creating a perfect test of KT Tape Pro Ice鈥檚 pain-relieving qualities.

After skiing, we were handed samples of KT Tape Pro Ice and instructed to apply it to any painful areas. Experts were available to assist with the application. The proper application method, they explained, is called . You stretch the center of the tape, apply it to the skin, and leave about two inches unstretched at each end to secure it to your limb. Given I was completely new to this, I opted to have an expert apply it to ensure it was done correctly.

Within a few minutes, I could feel the menthol working. There was a strong cooling sensation that did indeed seem to override my pain. Usually, my Achilles stiffens when I rest after activity, but the tape also helped alleviate that. It felt like it prevented my Achilles from cooling down and tightening up during periods of inactivity. I could feel the menthol working for around four hours, and it reactivated when I started sweating during snowshoeing.

Once I got home, I continued testing KT Tape Pro Ice on my Achilles when it was sore and also on my lower back for pain caused by moving large heavy objects. When applying the tape at home, the cooling effect was nowhere near as strong on my Achilles as it was initially at the event, but it felt stronger on my lower back pain.

We were told that each person would experience the menthol differently. Some may have a strong reaction to the cooling, with it lasting four to eight hours, while others may not feel anything at all, adding the cooling effect may even vary between applications on the same person.听 Apart from this warning that the cooling effect may vary between applications and body parts, and the fact that I was applying it myself, I’m unsure why it wasn’t as effective on my Achilles on subsequent applications. Luckily, my Achilles has not been painful enough that I felt I needed serious relief鈥攚hich may be another explanation for the reduced sensation.

I鈥檝e continued to test it on various body parts such as sore forearms from rock climbing and sore thighs from running鈥攁nd each time it provided pain relief and improved post-soreness mobility.

I still haven鈥檛 tried kinesiology tape without menthol, and I鈥檓 not sure I鈥檒l need to as long as I have the Pro Ice version. The addition of menthol really brings the tape to life. Every time I鈥檝e used it, I immediately feel the tape working, significantly reducing my perception of soreness, and allowing me to work out again sooner. After testing KT Tape Pro Ice, I’m completely convinced of its benefits and have even become somewhat addicted to it.

Here鈥檚 the thing: KT Tape is safe鈥攏o scientific studies I鈥檓 aware of have reported adverse effects from using it. Furthermore, while the studies are ambiguous about its benefits, there are countless anecdotal stories of KT Tape helping individuals manage injuries during both exercise and daily activities for many years. If the worst outcome of it not working is losing a few bucks, there’s little reason not to try it.

The post How Menthol-Infused KT Tape Pro Ice Converted a Kinesiology Tape Skeptic appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

When your lower back or glutes flare up painfully after going too hard trail running over the weekend, your default instinct might be to add some extra stretching to your routine or schedule some time with your massage therapist or chiropractor.听 If the pain is excruciating, you might even consult with a sports medicine doctor.

But there’s another accessible and effective treatment option for aches and pains. One that has only limited side effects and that’s been practiced for thousands of years.

It’s acupuncture. And although the mechanisms through which acupuncture works in the body aren鈥檛 fully understood, and there may be a placebo effect in play, research repeatedly indicates that acupuncture is effective at treating various forms of pain, including those related to , the back, and .

Here鈥檚 what you need to know about acupuncture鈥檚 potential role in treating sports injuries.听

Acupuncture and Sports Medicine

is a practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that involves inserting small, thin needles through the skin and often into the superficial layers of the muscle to relieve pain and address health conditions like menstrual cramps, , and arthritis. The points where needles are inserted are pathways, each corresponding to a particular organ or system, along which energy, or qi, is believed to travel. According to TCM, the needle helps unblock meridians.听

From a Western medicine perspective, it鈥檚 believed that the needles stimulate the body鈥檚 muscles, connective tissue, and central nervous system, which can help with recovery from illnesses and pain. 鈥淏asically, what we’re doing with acupuncture is we’re using your body’s inherent means of healing itself,鈥� says , DO, who is a primary care and sports medicine physician and licensed acupuncturist at Houston Methodist.听

Sports medicine acupuncturists specifically treat sports injuries using the same foundations of TCM, but also incorporate functional anatomy, muscle testing, and range of motion testing. 鈥淯sing this approach, I can precisely identify complex injuries and their sources, especially when checking for posture issues during various movements,鈥� explains sports medicine acupuncturist .听

a doctor of Chinese Medicine and licensed acupuncturist who works with the Minnesota Vikings, believes combining TCM and sports medicine really helps nudge the body along on the path to healing. 鈥淭he body wants to be in harmony, it wants to be balanced, it wants to be functional,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut sometimes it has to be told what to do because it鈥檚 gotten out of alignment.鈥�

Acupuncture is used to treat all sorts of sports injuries, including joint problems, muscle sprains and strains, tight muscles and trigger points, lower back pain, cervical and lumbar herniations, and many other conditions. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just so incredibly helpful because we can treat the whole body effectively in that one treatment,鈥� Patzer says. 鈥淭hose needles are like little magic wands.鈥�

This broad approach means that when treating something like a quadriceps strain, an acupuncturist will also assess and potentially address other muscles around that injury that may be compromised or compensating. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 treat anything around [the injury], they鈥檙e going to continue to have that quad injury and it鈥檚 not going to heal nearly as fast as if you treat upstream and downstream as well,鈥� Patzer explains.

How Acupuncture Helps Sports Injuries

Here are a few ways that acupuncture can be useful when treating sports injuries, according to the experts:听

1. Reduces Pain

Acupuncture is frequently used to of pain and is increasingly recognized as a non-drug alternative to painkillers. One reason for acupuncture鈥檚 pain relieving effect is that it鈥檚 known to , which can help decrease pain and lift your mood. 鈥淏y boosting the production of endorphins, acupuncture directly counters pain, a primary concern with sports-related injuries,鈥� Menard says.听

2. Decreases Inflammation

Acupuncturists commonly use the practice to reduce inflammation following injuries. Menard explains that acupuncture improves to targeted muscles, fascia, tendons, and ligaments, which helps reduce swelling and repair injured tissues.

A recent published in the journal Nature found that acupuncture can trigger an anti-inflammatory response and suppress inflammation through the involvement of a nerve pathway between the vagus nerve and the adrenals called the vagal-adrenal axis. Other show similar findings, with acupuncture reducing or controlling inflammation by stimulating various pathways that connect the nervous and immune systems, both of which are known to play a role in the body鈥檚 inflammatory response. It鈥檚 important to note that these studies were conducted on mice, which isn鈥檛 always an exact predictor of human response.

Another found that acupuncture may reduce inflammation by stimulating the vagus nerve, which is part of the parasympathetic nervous system and plays a large role in the body鈥檚 stress response.

3. Corrects Muscle Imbalances

Acupuncture can enhance proprioception鈥攎eaning the body鈥檚 sense of its position and movement鈥攂y addressing trigger points and knots in the muscle tissue, Menard says. For athletes, proprioception is really important because it plays a role in balance, coordinating movements, and adjusting muscle activity. When proprioception is low, sports injuries may be to occur

鈥淭hese knots, if untreated, can hinder muscles and their counterparts from functioning correctly, leading to imbalances and further complications,鈥� Menard explains. 鈥淎cupuncture’s ability to identify and treat these points can provide immediate relief, helping athletes regain their proper form and function.鈥�

Patzer compares muscle functioning to a slinky鈥攚hen a muscle is functioning properly it opens and closes like a spring, and that鈥檚 a good thing. But if it鈥檚 pulled too long or locked up too tight, it may not perform at its best. Left untreated, this can sometimes lead to problems with nearby muscles, tendons, and joints. 鈥淲ith acupuncture, I鈥檓 able to help the muscle get that kind of proper movement and function back,鈥� Patzer says.听

Do All Acupuncturists Treat Sports Injuries?

Many acupuncturists may be able to help someone with a sports injury, but if you鈥檙e an athlete and experiencing pain, Patzer says it鈥檚 best to see someone who specializes or is certified in sports medicine acupuncture. If you have an X-ray or MRI results, bring a copy to your appointment to help inform treatment. 鈥淚t’s essential to accurately diagnose each condition to tailor the most effective acupuncture treatment to the patient’s specific needs,鈥� Menard says.

Keep in mind that acupuncture likely isn鈥檛 going to be a one-stop cure for any sports injury that arises, and it鈥檚 often most effective when used in conjunction with other types of treatment. Acupuncturists will even refer patients to other care facilities or professionals, like hospitals, chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists. 鈥淲e work in tandem, ensuring every patient gets the holistic care they need,鈥滿enard says.

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