Acupuncture can be a useful tool for performers, musicians, and vocalists for a variety of reasons. With summer kicking off, there will be lots of bands and performers planning shows all over the area of Lawrence, KS. In the music world, injuries may occur frequently as musicians often push beyond their physical limits. Galen Acupuncture and Osteopathic Medicine offers several services that could help you perform your best!
Acupuncture can be effective for recent and chronic issues with performers. Inadequate rest, poor eating habits, improper posture, and mental and emotional strain are common issues that can arise with musicians’ hectic lifestyles. Taking pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs are only temporary reliefs to dull the aches and pains. Ultimately the body needs time to heal, and using medications only masks a deeper issue. These warning signals from your body are telling you to stop, rest, and heal. Some examples that musicians could experience would include tendonitis, carpal tunnel and ulnar tunnel syndromes, neck and back pain, and other repetitive motion/overuse type injuries acquired while learning their craft.
When you insert acupuncture needles into specific areas or points in the body, they assist in promoting circulation and releasing endorphins – the body’s natural pain relievers. Acupuncture needles also send signals to the brain through the nerve fibers. These travel more quickly than pain fibers, allowing the brain to process the signal from the acupuncture treatment first and to ward off pain second. Acupuncture provides a gradual and painless release that is more gentle than more aggressive treatments that might aggravate symptoms or be to tender to treat. Acupuncture needles are very thin, as opposed to needles commonly used to draw blood, which are hollow and large and painful when inserted. Typically, you will not feel anything more than a slight pinch when an acupuncture needle is inserted and if you do – its not being inserted correctly.
Acupuncture is an ancient, natural, and drug-free health care system that is said to provide instant relief and provide long term benefits. Most acupuncturists feel that health is maintained by chi. Chi is the vital life energy that flows through your body – so it is said. This chi flows along channels in the body called meridians. If the flow is continuously uninterrupted, health is said to be maintained. If the flow if chi is disrupted however, that’s when various health problems arise. By inserting fine sterile acupuncture needles at specific locations, an acupuncturist can break up any blockages that have affected the smooth flow of chi. So, when should a musician seek acupuncture therapy? It can be particularly useful when pain medications, physical therapy, massage, and other options are not working any more. This is common in things like chronic or arthritic conditions, many times in the hands. Conditions involving muscle spasms, joint pain, and tenderness that other treatment methods could make worse are also helpful with the use of acupuncture.
For musicians’ acupuncture may be a valuable resource. Dr. April L. Harris with Galen Acupuncture and Osteopathic Medicine in Lawrence, KS is certified in Family Practice and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment with added qualifications in Geriatric Medicine. Located just a few blocks from historic downtown Lawrence, you can call 785-393-1108 to schedule an appointment. Visit our website to learn more!
Posted in Acupuncture