Acupuncture for Injury Recovery

As a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, I help people as they recover from injuries, whether from playing sports, tripping and falling, or doing a repetitive work-related movement. One of the tools I use as a treatment is acupuncture. How does acupuncture help the body heal?

According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, the body contains energy, or qi, that flows through the body in specific pathways or “meridians”. Pain or illness results from an interruption or blockage of this flow of energy. Putting thin needles at acupuncture points along the meridians unblocks the flow of qi, which restores balance and allows the body to heal itself.

From the modern scientific perspective, research has shown that acupuncture can cause the body to release natural pain-relieving substances such as endorphins, which reduces the feeling of pain from an injury. Acupuncture treatments for injuries appear to speed up the body’s natural healing process. It is unclear how exactly this happens, as research studies have mixed results. There is some evidence that acupuncture can reduce inflammation in the body and improve blood circulation. Acupuncture also seems to help reduce muscle spasms and cramping, which can help improve flexibility and range of motion. Additionally, acupuncture seems to improve sleep quality, which is very important for injury recovery.

It's important to note that acupuncture is just one tool that can help with healing from an injury. In addition to acupuncture, a comprehensive treatment plan for an injury also includes relative rest, therapeutic exercise to help improve strength and flexibility, potential medications, and an evaluation on injury prevention. My medical training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, combined with my medical acupuncture training, helps me to tailor a well-rounded treatment plan for my patients to optimize recovery from an injury.