Oakland, CA – Can Acupuncture Help With A Pulled or Tight Muscle? Yes It Can!

My long-term clients know that if they have any injury they should come for an acupuncture appointment as soon as possible. Why? Acupuncture can help a pulled or strained muscle heal faster.

Take the case of Rafael. An avid sportsman, Rafael would come in for acupuncture every three to four weeks to help with any aches and pains from his active lifestyle, which included surfing, biking, soccer, swimming, and weight lifting. He had some chronic lower leg pains from all the activity but overall ate well and kept himself in good condition.

However, Rafael came to notice that any time he overdid it with the exercise or got injured, he should make an appointment quickly to help heal the problem before it worsened. Over the years we worked together we have helped with a surfboard injury to the back, getting cleated during a soccer game, pulling a shoulder muscle while swimming, and straining a calf muscle playing soccer. In each case, just one or two acupuncture sessions were enough to help clear the inflammation and pain and get him back to his activities.

Why is acupuncture so effective? When muscles are tight, using tiny acupuncture needles directly in the tense muscles can cause them to trigger and release immediately. This gives instant relief. When muscles are strained, acupuncture is helpful with increasing local circulation of blood and lymph and creating a minor inflammatory response to help the damaged tissues heal.

As an experienced practitioner, I can also guide my patients as to whether they should rest or stretch or do minor activities with the injury; whether they should use heat or ice or both; whether using Epsom salts or topical herbal patches will help; or whether they should also see a chiropractor or massage therapist to heal injuries.

In addition to acupuncture, I also provide cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, and light massage to help my patients heal faster. With all of these modalities, injuries can heal much faster than with rest alone. Are you curious about whether acupuncture can help you as well? Please be in touch! I look forward to hearing from you.