Athletes Accept Acupuncture
Written By: Kaitlyn Seith
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Published - May 1, 2006
Since strong pain relievers Vioxx and Celebrex were taken off the market due to extreme side effects, many University of Maryland athletes have started turning to an alternative form of pain relief -- acupuncture.
"Just recently more athletes are coming in," said Cheryl Nook, acupuncturist at the University Health Center. "When Vioxx and Celebrex were taken off the market, people tried everything, and they used acupuncture as a last resort."
Since the pain relievers were taken off the market, acupuncturists have noticed an increase in athletes among their clients on a national scale, said health center acupuncturist Pamela Gandy. She has seen a similar increase in calls from athletes on the campus and their trainers.
Tennis player Marianne Baker said she has had a good experience with acupuncture since before its recent surge in popularity. She was first exposed to it about six years ago when she grew tired of her endless sinus problems.
"I had gotten to the point that I really needed to do something to make this go away," said Baker, a junior communication major. "I really would have done anything in the world to make it go away."
In desperation, Baker turned to acupuncture despite her fear of needles.
Baker said she calmed down enough to be able to go through with the process because the needles are thin and the acupuncturist was very understanding.
During her freshman year of college, Baker had to take medications including Celebrex for her shoulder pain while she waited to get an appointment with her acupuncturist. Even though the combination of medications worked, Baker said acupuncture was more effective.
Women's soccer player Nataly Arias also enjoys acupuncture, not only as a pain reliever, but also as a form of relaxation.
"It definitely helped a lot [for the pain]," said Arias, a sophomore kinesiology major. "It helped a lot personally because I actually find it to be relaxing."
To avoid surgery for a heel problem she has had since August, Arias started acupuncture a month ago with weekly treatments and has since moved to twice a week because she likes it so much. Thanks to acupuncture and shockwave therapy, the threat of surgery is no longer an issue for her, she said.
"I have nothing but positive [things] to say right now," Arias said. "It is nice that something finally worked."
The 5000-year-old art of acupuncture involves placing stainless steel needles in various places within the twelve acupuncture meridians or pathways in the body to stimulate qi, a life force that energizes and circulates within the body according to the Chinese belief.
"It has a lot of success with joint pain, muscle pain, back pain and tendentious," Nook said. "Athletes think it's great."
From a medical perspective, acupuncture releases endorphin, the body's natural pain killers.
While the popularity of acupuncture has grown among athletes in particular, Gandy said since the acupuncture office's opening in the health center eight years ago, it has always been booked. They see the maximum number of patients they can see almost every day the office is open.
Date: April 25, 2006
© 2006 The Diamondback via U-WIRE