Sports Injury and Pain

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for sports injury and pain. Whether you are dealing with an acute sports injury or chronic pain, acupuncture has been proven to help with pain reduction.

We understand that prescription mediations can cause unwanted side effects that effect an athlete’s training and performance. In contrast with prescription medications, acupuncture and herbal supplements have little to no negative side effects on an athlete’s performance.

Sports injuries are typically caused by direct impact, overuse, or administration of force that is greater than a particular part of the body can withstand. Acute pain accounts for the majority of sports injuries and is associated with trauma or sudden injury. Chronic pain is typically caused by overuse or an old injury. When treating injuries, acupuncture is effective for, but not limited to, targeting pain, reducing inflammation, and releasing trigger points (areas of tightened muscle).

Our Approach

Eliza Mellen-Smith Acupuncture uses both acupuncture and TCM to not only work with your symptoms, but also treat the underlying causes of your injury or pain. Once Eliza determines the cause(s) of your pain, she will design a treatment plan specific to the patient that addresses his or her concerns, as well as boosts overall health and vitality.

Acupuncture and TCM are based off of the concept of Qi (“chee”), which is the vital energy that flows through the body along pathways called meridians. When you become injured, the Qi in that area becomes stagnant, unbalanced, or deficient, causing pain and inflammation to occur. TCM dictates the possible causes of pain are stagnation, cold, and deficiency.

StagnationPain that is linked to sprains, strains, and other traumas, and is characterized by sudden, stabbing, severe pain. Sometimes this pain presents with tightness and stiffness and made worse with rest.

Cold, damp obstructionPain characterized by swelling, numbness, and “heaviness,” which often is worse in the morning and exacerbated by cold, damp weather, but responds well to heat.

DeficiencyChronic pain, characterized as a “dull” pain that typically improves with rest.

Eliza Mellen-Smith Acupuncture has had success treating the following injuries:
  • Sprains
  • Strains
  • Back pain
  • Neck pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Knee pain
  • Wrist pain
  • Vertebral disc inflammation
  • Joint injuries
  • Sciatica
  • Tendonitis
  • Tennis elbow