Professional Athletes Turn to Acupuncture for Relief

Scott Gomez understands the constant risk of injury associated with professional sports. Like many of his fellow athletes, he also understands that acupuncture is a viable alternative to conventional medical techniques in treating these injuries.

Currently a center with the St. Louis Blues hockey team, Gomez was with the New York Rangers when he suffered a stress fracture in one ankle. He subsequently sought stress fracture treatment through this ancient Chinese medical practice. He admitted that he felt much better after the treatment, as did a fellow player who had done the same.

Whether they are in hockey, baseball, basketball or cycling, athletes have found success with acupuncture in dealing with injuries, past injuries or the physical problems that come with training and workouts. This method of treatment relieves pain, increases circulation and decreases the inflammation that often accompanies an injury. It can even hasten the recovery process. Using acupuncture as a stress fracture treatment also avoids the use of drugs and the side effects that can result from conventional medical practices.

Gomez had actually missed four games before he learned of the fracture. He managed to play in two games before having to give in to the pain associated with the injury itself and to a groin pull he experienced while trying to skate with the ankle problem. After his acupuncture treatment, he was able to skate on his own and later practiced with the team. Coach Tom Renney said he was fine with one of his players turning to alternative medicine, as long as it allowed him to return to the ice.