Body

Rest and recovery are vital to optimal athletic performance, such as cardiovascular training, running, strength and conditioning programs, high intensity interval training (HIIT), surfing, swimming and water sports, long-distance bicycling or mountain biking, and other rigorous fitness programs such as CrossFit, hot yoga or pilates, mixed martial arts, etc.

Acupuncture, Cupping Therapy, Gua Sha and other Myofascial Release techniques, medical massage (Tuina), and proper nutrition advice and supplement support, can speed your physical recovery of sports injuries as well as boost your body's innate healing processes.

Stimulating specific points (acupoints) on the body with acupuncture triggers a cascade of neurochemical responses from your brain. For example, the endorphins released due to acupuncture treatment not only help your body reduce the perception of pain, but also create feelings of euphoria and modulate your response to stressors.

Types of Pain Acupuncture Can Treat

When used in combination, these treatments are effective to manage any acute or chronic pain, including but not limited to:

  • headaches;

  • neck pain;

  • shoulder pain (such as rotator cuff injuries, frozen shoulder, thoracic outlet syndrome or impingement, etc);

  • back pain (including cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral) and sciatica; arm pain;

  • elbow pain (such as tendonitis, epicondylitis, bursitis, etc);

  • wrist pain (from carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel syndrome, ganglion cysts, or De Quervain’s tenosynovitis and other overuse injury);

  • hand pain (due to arthritis, gout, trigger finger, etc);

  • hip pain and reduced range of motion (from labral tears, groin injuries, hernia, and other sports injury);

  • knee pain (osteoarthritis, cartilage tears, meniscus, IT band issues, patellofemoral pain, Osgood-Schlatter disease, and other inflammation);

  • ankle pain (ligament sprain or strain, Achilles tendinitis, Lupus);

  • foot pain (broken bones, neuropathy, plantar fasciitis, Morton’s neuroma, bone spurs, overuse);

  • fibromyalgia.

What About Cupping, Gua Sha, or Massage Therapy?

Cupping is a very effective therapy that releases bound fascia, increases microcirculation, and promotes lymphatic movement of the symptomatic areas. Melissa utilizes cupping to encourage the release of tight muscles, speed tissue repair, and increase flexibility and mobility.

Gua Sha is a specialized form of myofascial release using a tool to scrape the skin, facilitating the healing process, and reducing pain; a manual therapy similar to what chiropractors or physical therapists use called the Graston Technique.

Medical massage to targeted areas can be very beneficial in a limited amount of time, especially when combined with cupping and gua sha, and Melissa is trained in an Chinese style of massage called Tuina. Tuina is an intuitive, energetic hands on technique that works on a deeper level than muscles, bones and joints. This style of massage is intended to unblock channels of energy on both a physiological and emotional level.

Topical Pain Relief Options

Clinical Strength CBD Pain Sticks penetrate deeply through the skin to offer fast-acting, cooling, powerful relief from sports-related muscle soreness and joint discomfort.

Excel Full Spectrum Hemp Oil Cream offers immediate delivery of a comforting warming/cooling blend of herbs, botanicals, essential oils, and full spectrum hemp oil to reduce inflammation of targeted areas.

Doterra Deep Blue Rub topical cream provides a comforting cooling/warming sensation to problem areas, using powerful plant extracts, such as Capsicum, and is formulated with the Deep Blue proprietary blend of essential oils.

Available for purchase with in-office consultation and instructions on how and when to use.