Running is a great way to get fit, stay active, and experience a nice rush of endorphins. Whether you are a veteran marathon runner or working up to a second lap around your block, running can be a truly singular experience.
Unfortunately, running is hard on the body. Poor form or bad equipment can leave you with a sporty injury or with poor foot health. Not only can it seriously damage your ability to keep running, but it can also damage your quality of life
One way to help prevent and treat your injury is with acupuncture. This traditional medicine practice involves inserting needles into the skin at specific points in the body to facilitate healing.
For runners, it provides a number of benefits, which we will look at in this post.
- Corrects Muscle Imbalances
The muscles in your body are all connected, meaning that it only takes a small imbalance to throw off the whole system That can result in pain in your joints, muscles, and tendons. Acupuncture can help correct these imbalances, reducing the amount of stress in your body and resolving some of the pain. - Speed Healing and Recovery
Nothing is more detrimental to a runner than an injury. But acupuncture provides an excellent method of treatment for foot pain, hip pain, knee pain and more. That is because acupuncture helps to improve blood flow, which helps to heal ligaments and damaged tendons. - Protect Against Chronic Stress
If you are a marathon runner or other competitive runner, you are likely used to the stress that comes in anticipation of a big race. That stress can cause a tightening of your veins and actually make you more prone to a sports injury. Acupuncture has been shown to have a lasting effect on the way your body handles its stress. - Improved Immune System
Heavy training can increase your likelihood of experience an illness like an upper respiratory tract infection. Acupuncture helps mitigate this risk. It has been shown that acupuncture could possibly help improve the white blood cell activity in the body.
There are a number of important pain treatment and physical therapy options that can help you recover from the damage running can do to your body. But whether you are experiencing a sports injury or you are one of the 1.5 billion people who live with chronic pain, acupuncture is unique in the way that it helps your body avoid the damage altogether.
