The Olympics is wrapping up, and we couldn’t believe some of the incredible feats we witnessed from this year’s athletes. It takes a lot of work and a strict routine to perform at that level, so we decided to dive into how Olympians become the best of the best.
There’s a concept called the 1% rule – it says that to become truly great at something you should focus on making as many small, 1% improvements as possible. These efforts build up and compound in a way that lets you achieve something great.
This concept applies to acupuncture too. The more consistently you come in over time, the better results you will see. Whether you’re trying to recover from an injury/surgery or maximize the strength and ability of your muscles, consistent acupuncture will help you get there.
Which Olympians Use Acupuncture?
There’s a long list of Olympians who use acupuncture to get to the top of their game, but here is a list of some of our favorites:
DeeDee Trotter
This two-time gold medalist in track won three medals in her career, one in 2008 and two more in 2012. A career ending injury shortly after the 2008 Olympics threatened her running career, and she didn’t know if she would compete again.
DeeDee used acupuncture following her surgery to help her recovery and aid her body in returning to its prime state. Without the assistance of acupuncture, she may not have been able to return in 2012 to win another gold medal.
Gabby Douglas
Gabby Douglas, a record-breaking gymnast with three gold medals, was the first American gymnast to win gold in both the team and all-around events. Gabby has spoken in multiple interviews about acupuncture’s importance in her recovery and muscle maintenance routine.
We missed Gabby at this year’s Olympics, but if she makes a come back in 2028 it’ll surely be with the help of acupuncture. Keeping up a consistent acupuncture routine when you’re injured increases the blood flow to the damaged tissues, speeding up the recovery process.
Amy Acuff
Five-time Olympian Amy Acuff not only completed in track and field for the US team in consecutive Olympics with acupuncture’s help to maintain her physicality, but she’s also a licensed acupuncturist. She attributes acupuncture as the key to her longevity… and it seems to be working considering she competed at an elite level into her 40s.
Amy pursued acupuncture as a career after it helped her recover from an injury that almost kept her from competing again. She says “injuries that would have dragged on for weeks were cleared up in one acupuncture session. I realized that for most of my sports injuries and things in general, western medicine really couldn’t help me at all except to give me a pill.” Now she uses acupuncture to help other athletes compete at a high level and recover from their injuries faster.
Mark McMorris
Canadian bronze medalist Mark McMorris competed in 2014 as a Canadian snowboarder. Just weeks before his Olympic debut, Mark broke his ribs and acted quickly to heal in time for the competition.
He relied heavily on acupuncture to speed up the healing process and relieve pain. Just four days after his injury, he was back in the gym. After winning his bronze medal he said, “as soon as I got back on my board, it was just back to normal. No pain. No anything. I guess it showed this weekend, because I really felt on point in my riding.”
How does acupuncture speed up recovery?
Whether you’re suffering from an injury or healing after surgery, acupuncture can help your body recover faster. It increases circulation, decreases muscle tension, and activates your body’s natural healing response.
Increased circulation brings more of the vital nutrients your tissues need to heal themselves while promoting waste removal. Releasing muscle tension also improves blood flow while decreasing inflammation in the surrounding tissues. This is a powerful combination for speeding up recovery.
Acupuncturists believe that vital energy flows through your body, and that this energy is responsible for the function of your tissues, organs, systems, and more. When the energy flow is strong, you can heal quickly and better prevent injury. Acupuncture allows blocked energy to flow again and promotes strength when used consistently.
How does acupuncture boost athletic performance?
Acupuncture boosts athletic performance in the same way it speeds up recovery while also improving range of motion, flexibility, energy, focus, and stress levels.
Flexibility and range of motion are improved through reduction of muscle tension and increased muscle activation. The motor points in your muscles are activated with the small acupuncture needles, allowing them to loosen and relax. This will also help you prevent future injuries.
Acupuncture can also have a powerful impact on your nervous system, decreasing stress, improving sleep, and helping you feel more awake during the day. These are important conditions for maximizing athletic performance and allowing you to rise to your best.
If you’re interested in using acupuncture to heal from an injury or improve your athletic performance, we are eager to be your ally in your journey to becoming the best. OHM Acupuncture has helped hundreds of athletes recover quickly and improve their performance through acupuncture. Schedule an appointment to learn about our wide selection of performance enhancing treatments, including acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicine, gua sha, electrical stimulation, and more.
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