ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT FOR COMBAT INJURIES IN SAN LUIS OBISPO
Acupuncture is an important part of our multidisciplinary holistic approach to treating acute and chronic pain and neurological disorders, including combat wounds and contact sports injuries. In addition to providing drug-free pain relief, acupuncture also facilitates injury repair and wound healing. At California Neurohealth, our chiropractic neurologist Dr. Chris DeMartini and our acupuncturist Elham Khodabandeloo, L.Ac. incorporate acupuncture treatments into our integrated man skiing on a mountain care programs. Acupuncture enhances pain management, helps the body heal faster after injury, restores a fuller range of function and mobility, and reduces the risk for future injury. Acupuncture treatments are effective for acute and chronic strains and sprains; acute and chronic arthritis; tendonitis, bursitis; spine injuries; joint injuries, jaw fractures and sprains, post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD); post-concussive syndrome, and much, much more .
How Acupuncture Helps Injuries Heal Faster, Relieves Pain
Acupuncture is a branch of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that supports the body’s natural healing by facilitating necessary circulatory, neurological, immunological and hormonal processes. Placing acupuncture needles at specific points along anatomically determined pathways, facilitates the flow of blood and improves circulation, which is critical to reducing swelling and accelerating tissue healing which leads to faster recovery after injury. This same application can be used to facilitate faster adaptation to training regimens which help prevent injury. Acupuncture affects the peripheral nervous system to cause a release of specific neurotransmitters that enhance circulation, the migration of immune cells of repair to the site of an injury and amplifies sensory input into the central nervous system which has many broad reaching effects on the whole body. Some of the broad effects of acupuncture include increases in growth hormone which has been shown in studies to accelerate body tissue repair. Acupuncture also affects the central nervous system to reduce pain and to reverse the wind-up phenomenon in chronic pain.
Acupuncture sessions for post-traumatic stress disorder can reduce stress and facilitate the reconsolidation of memories from the past traumatic events as the person constructively engages the emotional and psychological triggers through treatment.
Combining Eastern and Western medicine protocols, while using modern diagnostic techniques, proven technology and treatment methods, gives our patients the opportunity to minimize post-injury scarring and shorten post-injury healing time. Post-fracture, post dislocation and post-surgical recovery times are reduced, often by 50%. Acupuncture can help prepare the body for better performance when the injuries are healed and patients are ready to return to their sporting or combat activities at full capacity much sooner.
During your initial appointment, you will undergo a comprehensive medical assessment to determine functional strengths and weaknesses. Our team will then create a custom treatment program based on the findings of these assessments. We will also use the findings from our first evaluation to create a baseline for evaluating future treatment success and optimizing treatment accordingly. We closely monitor our patients’ healing progress after an injury or surgical procedure using physical examination and standardized, validated objective and subjective outcome measures to ensure optimal recovery.
Acupuncture Treats Musculoskeletal Injuries
Acupuncture is an effective treatment option for combat injuries and chronic musculoskeletal concerns like tendonitis, bursitis and arthritis. As a stand-alone treatment, acupuncture is also effective for improving mobility while reducing inflammation and pain. Many of our patients prefer acupuncture treatments to medication. This is because acupuncture offers the same benefits of pain reduction without the potentially life-threatening side effects associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin, or the potentially addictive opioids like hydrocodone, oxycodone and fentanyl.
Next Steps: Recovery with Acupuncture and Integrated Care
Our mission is to empower patients to better health with a clear plan of action. At California Neurohealth, we believe that the relationship our providers have with our patients is critical to successful treatment. We listen to everything that our patients have to say during our consultation and shape treatment plans accordingly. New patients receive a free, 30-minute consultation during which we will discuss the role of acupuncture in the treatment plan.
For more information on the benefits of acupuncture for wound healing and injury recovery, schedule your free consultation today: (805) 439-1581!