More and more people that participate in regular physical exercise and sport have learned about the benefits of acupuncture for hamstring pain. The ancient Chinese practice is frequently used to treat a wide range of injuries as well as enhance physical activities.
What Causes Hamstring Strains?
Hamstrings are made up of a group of tendons and muscles located at the back of the thigh. Hamstring strains can be a result of a number of factors. Not stretching and warming up adequately prior to exercising are primary causes of hamstring injuries. Hamstring strains are often the result of sprinting and are also brought on by movements like powerful golf swings. In extreme cases the hamstring can end up tearing which sometimes causes bruising. Symptoms of hamstring injuries include pain, swelling, inflammation and muscle spasms. Athletes that have strength instability issues between their quadriceps and hamstring muscles are typically more likely to experience hamstring injuries.
For best performance and health, the hamstring muscles of athletes need to be 60 to 75% as strong as their quadriceps in order to prevent injury. Hamstrings are particularly susceptible to injury under sudden changes of direction, during bursts of speed, or slowing down movements. In addition, athletes that attempt to play through hip or low back pain can experience hamstring issues because their bodies will naturally try to compensate for the injury.
Traditional Treatments
The traditional medical treatments for hamstring injury include compression, ice, elevation and rest. The recovery process may also include using crutches during the healing process. Severe cases can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months to heal. A common problem encountered that impedes recovery is that the patient doesn’t completely rest the leg after injuring the hamstring.
Acupuncture for Hamstring Pain
Acupuncture is an excellent treatment for boosting the healing process of both chronic and acute hamstring injuries. The ancient Chinese practice can decrease inflammation, alleviate muscle spasms, as well as restore muscle tissue flexibility. In addition, acupuncture increases circulation to the tissues that are damaged which plays a part in speeding up the healing process says Samantha Jacobs a CT Acupuncturist.
A lot of athletes are prone to persistent hamstring injuries due to scar tissue that forms at the injured area. Scar tissue is a problem because it’s extremely fibrous which causes muscles to be less elastic. The more frequently a muscle is strained at one specific location the more scar tissue forms, increasing the chances of even more injuries. Cross fiber massage and acupuncture for hamstring pain have been proven to soften scar tissue and help develop a “functional” scar that is less susceptible to re-injury.
The practice has been proven to successfully treat a variety of sports injuries, including acupuncture for hamstring pain relief. If you are dealing with a severe hamstring injury, have it evaluated by an orthopedic medical professional. If surgery is not required, acupuncture is a highly effective solution for reducing hamstring pain, swelling and bruising, and to speed up the healing process. Chances are that your orthopedic physician will be able to refer you to a qualified acupuncturist.