[caption id="attachment_2999" align="alignright" width="338"]
Teen athletes with knee inflammation find relief with acupuncture[/caption]
Teen athletes commonly suffer from inflammatory knee conditions that are painful and get in the way of training and performing at their highest levels. Acupuncture is an effective method for reducing knee inflammation without pharmaceutical intervention or injections.
Knee inflammation is common for teen athletes. The causes are varied and can include:
- Traumatic injury from athletics;
- Osgood-Schlatter disease;
- Ligament tears and associated soft tissue damage; and/or
- Overuse.
How Do Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Support Teens with Knee Inflammation?
Acupuncture is known for being effective at reducing inflammation both throughout the body and locally at the site of injuries. In order to treat knee inflammation in teens we do acupressure or acupuncture at the location of the pain at the knees, release tight muscles elsewhere in the legs and/or buttocks and low back, and use acupressure or acupuncture to reduce systemic inflammation and tension.
Teen athletes are commonly overstressed and under-resourced with imperfect nutrition, hydration, and/or sleep. Acupressure or acupuncture is helpful to support the body's energy and resources while relaxing the nervous system.
How Soon Will My Teen Feel Better?
While it depends on the extent of the injury and the length of time it's been injured, nearly every teen walks off the table with some degree of relief. For some athletes a single session is sufficient to help them for several months, while other teens need to start with treatment every week or two until they're feeling reliably better after 3 or 4 treatments.
Our goal is to help your teen continue to play at a high level with minimal time off so they don't lose fitness. We may recommend minor reductions in activity when needed to achieve longer term muscle health goals.
What Else Can We Do To Support My Teen's Athletic Health and Performance?
We recommend a set of standard health practices to support your teen's overall health and also their athletic performance:
- Ensure as much sleep as possible, understanding that some sports require early morning or late evening practices; catch up on sleep where possible during days off;
- Eat regular meals that are well balanced, including protein, fat, and carbs. A wide variety of fruits and vegetables over the course of each week will help ensure that your athlete is getting the micronutrients they need.
- Take time off. Teen athletes these days are maxed out with school, training, and friend and family obligations. Make sure that your teen has some time every day to decompress (without a screen) and more time on the weekends that is unstructured and free for creativity and relaxation.
If you're curious to know more about how acupressure and acupuncture can support your teen athlete with inflammation, contact Inspire Family Acupuncture for a free consultation.
Here's to your health!
