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Acupuncture
Precision and Performance: Jenny Nieters, DACM, at Tight End University
Tight End University (TEU), an elite offseason training camp for NFL tight ends, has become a cornerstone for players aiming to hone their skills and gain a competitive edge. Offering athletes access to a premier team of recovery professionals, TEU is a sanctuary for athletes seeking excellence. For the third consecutive year, Dr. Jenny Nieters was honored to participate, providing support to the athletes.
The Intersection of Traditional and Modern Sports Medicine
Dr. Jenny Nieters, a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) is known for her innovative application of traditional acupuncture techniques tailored to the unique needs of athletes.
Athletes benefit significantly from acupuncture in a variety of ways.
1. Vasodilation
Acupuncture can stimulate the release of nitric oxide (NO) and other vasodilatory substances, which relax the smooth muscles of blood vessels. This relaxation leads to vasodilation, or the widening of blood vessels, allowing increased blood flow through the capillaries and enhancing overall microcirculation.
2. Neurovascular Modulation
Acupuncture needles inserted into specific points can stimulate nerve endings and initiate a cascade of neurovascular responses. This stimulation activates the autonomic nervous system, particularly the parasympathetic branch, which promotes vasodilation and improves blood flow to targeted areas.
3. Local Inflammatory Response
The insertion of acupuncture needles causes a minor, controlled inflammatory response at the site of needling. This localized inflammation results in the release of various chemical mediators, including histamines and prostaglandins, which increase capillary permeability and improve blood flow to the affected area.
4. Endorphin Release
Acupuncture triggers the release of endorphins and other neuropeptides, which have systemic effects, including the modulation of blood flow. Endorphins can influence cardiovascular function and enhance the microcirculation by improving the efficiency of blood flow through the microvascular network.
5. Reduction of Blood Viscosity
Acupuncture may help reduce blood viscosity, making it easier for blood to flow through small vessels. This reduction in viscosity is partly due to the improved balance of autonomic nervous system functions and the reduction of stress hormones, which can affect blood consistency.
6. Enhanced Cellular Metabolism
Improved microcirculation leads to better oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues, enhancing cellular metabolism and energy production. Acupuncture supports this process by optimizing the body’s physiological functions and promoting a more efficient exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the cellular level.
Practical Implications for Athletes
For athletes, enhanced microcirculation means better muscle recovery, reduced inflammation, and faster healing of injuries. By improving blood flow to the muscles and other tissues, acupuncture helps deliver essential nutrients and oxygen while removing metabolic waste products, thereby supporting optimal performance and quicker recovery times.
Scientific Evidence
Several studies have supported the idea that acupuncture improves microcirculation. For instance, research has shown that acupuncture increases skin and muscle blood flow, as evidenced by thermographic imaging and laser Doppler flowmetry. These studies demonstrate that acupuncture can have a measurable impact on blood flow dynamics, validating traditional claims with modern scientific methods.
Here are some references to studies that support the idea that acupuncture improves microcirculation, showing increased skin and muscle blood flow through thermographic imaging and laser Doppler flowmetry: continue reading
Examining the Synergy of Acupuncture and Meditation
If you suffer from stress and anxiety (and really, who doesn’t?) and you are looking for better and holistic ways to cope, you might want to consider the combination of meditation and acupuncture. While there is a big difference between the two, what they bring together is a formidable duo in pursuit of complete wellbeing. continue reading
Benefits of Working with Allied Practitioners
How your acupuncturist can build bridges among your health care team.
Let’s see if we can set the scene of something remarkable, something that could become the future of healthcare. Picture yourself walking into a doctor’s office or health clinic looking for relief from your debilitating chronic pain. The nurse calls your name and leads you into a serene treatment room. As you settle onto the examination table, the door opens and you are greeted by not just the familiar face of your acupuncturist, but also by a team of allied practitioners working in harmony to address your health concerns. continue reading
Veterans Can Find Relief and Recovery with Acupuncture
You would be hard pressed to find a warrior who didn’t come home wounded; either physically, emotionally, or more likely, both. Those who serve our country often return carrying the weight of their experiences, unable to find solace due to their deep emotional scars. continue reading
Using Acupuncture to Manage Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases can prove to be intricate and seemingly unsolvable puzzles for many people. And statistics prove this to be true as millions worldwide are impacted by autoimmune diseases ranging from rheumatoid arthritis to lupus, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel disease, and even Parkinson’s disease. Conventional medicine can diagnose 100 different autoimmune conditions, however the treatments offered don’t completely resolve the issues associated with the disease and in extreme cases, no treatment is available at all. And yet, in the midst of all these medical challenges that autoimmune diseases present, acupuncture emerges as a promising ally, offering relief to those grappling with these often-complex health conditions. continue reading