By Dr. John Rybak, DAc
Let’s face it—whether you’re a weekend warrior, a yoga junkie, or just went way too hard in your last pickleball match, injuries happen. Sprains, strains, sore muscles… ugh. But before you load up on pain pills or give your foam roller the death stare, consider this ancient trick that even modern athletes swear by: acupuncture.
Yes, acupuncture—that thing with the tiny needles. It’s not as scary as it sounds. In fact, it’s been around for thousands of years, and now, science is catching up and showing just how good it is at helping your body bounce back.
So… how does it work?
Acupuncture helps your body heal itself by:
- Boosting blood flow to injured areas (more oxygen and nutrients = faster healing!)
- Releasing endorphins (your body’s natural painkillers)
- Reducing inflammation (take that, swollen ankle!)
- Calming the nervous system so your muscles can chill out
What does the research say?
Plenty! Check these out:
- A study in The Clinical Journal of Pain found acupuncture reduces pain and improves movement in people with sports-related injuries (Yin et al., 2017).
- Another study showed that acupuncture helped improve knee function and reduce pain in people with chronic knee issues (BMJ Open, 2018).
- Athletes recovering from ankle sprains had less swelling and faster recovery with acupuncture (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2016).
- Research in Pain Medicine showed acupuncture helps with muscle recovery after intense workouts (Zhang et al., 2020).
- And a 2022 meta-analysis concluded acupuncture is effective for treating tendinopathies—those nagging tendon injuries that take forever to go away (Frontiers in Physiology, 2022).
Wait, do famous athletes really use it?
You bet they do.
- Kobe Bryant called acupuncture his “secret weapon” for bouncing back after injuries.
- Misty May-Treanor, the Olympic beach volleyball legend, used acupuncture to recover from a torn Achilles.
- NFL stars like James Harrison and Roddy White swore by it to stay game-ready.
- And tennis queen Serena Williams has used acupuncture during her career to manage pain and boost recovery.
Bottom line:
Acupuncture isn’t just for monks or movie stars. Whether you’re nursing a sore shoulder or trying to keep up with your kids at the park, this ancient therapy might just be the game-changer your body needs.
So next time you pull a hammy, don’t just ice it and pray. Contact Dr. John Rybak, DAc at The WellBridge Clinic, lie back, and let those tiny needles work their big magic.