http://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Boost+Your+Fitness+and+Sports+Performance 03/29/2024 05:14:27 am Boost Your Fitness and Sports Performance By: Trina Lion L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. When a top athlete like Kobe Bryant tweets a picture of acupuncture needles in his leg, you know it’s time to consider acupuncture and Oriental medicine for improving sports performance. All athletes and coaches are involved in an ongoing search for ways to improve performance and gain a competitive edge over their rivals. Many are finding that acupuncture can often provide that edge. Are you looking for your next "runner’s high"? Scientists from the <i>Neuroscience Research Institute in China</i> found that acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, which can reduce the sensation of pain. Instead of trying to exercise and get fit with a philosophy of "no pain, no gain," you may be able to use acupuncture to experience less pain while you pursue your fitness goals. Practitioners of Oriental medicine can help athletes, even the amateur "weekend warrior," in many ways. Tight, stiff muscles may be helped by manual techniques such as cupping, a suction-based massage, and Gua Sha, a Chinese form of friction massage. In 2011, researchers at the University of Duisburg-Essen found that Gua Sha was effective at treating chronic pain and muscle stiffness in the lower back. In India, researchers from Majeedia Hospital found cupping helped to reduce pain, inflammation, and muscle stiffness in patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. Cupping also improved blood supply to the area and simulated light exercise, leading to increased muscle flexibility in the region, researchers explained. Trina Lion, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac., is an American acupuncturist currently living in Shanghai, China, where for the past three years she has been teaching Traditional Chinese Medicine concepts including nutrition, herbs, and acupuncture. She has apprenticed in two clinics in Shanghai, practiced for two years in an expat clinic, and taught at Jiao Tong University, one of the oldest universities in China. In December 2013 she completed her first textbook for students describing TCM terminology. Prior to becoming an acupuncturist, Trina was an educator and literacy specialist who created educational materials for institutions that included the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the American Museum of Natural History, and the New York Public Library, among others. Printed from Acufinder.com http://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Boost+Your+Fitness+and+Sports+Performance 03/29/2024 05:14:27 am |