Alternative health
and wellness practices
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By: J. Scott, DPT, ATC, TSAC-F
A firefighter I have been working with recently requested a
blog post on alternative health and wellness practices for tactical
athletes. Below is a list of alternative
medical practices that I hope you find helpful. These alternative practices are not intended to replace
traditional medical practices, but may be used to supplement a healthy
lifestyle.
Acupuncture
This practice is based on ancient Chinese medicine. The body is mapped out into meridians. By placing very thin, non-hallow needles at
specific points on the body, there is a balance in the flow of energy (or Chi)
through these meridians. Acupuncture may
be used to help treat a variety of conditions, including pain and stress. Most commonly there are 6-8 treatment
sessions for each ailment/condition, however, this number is dependent upon the
individual’s diagnosis and its severity.
There are 1-2 treatments per week.
The diagnosis determines where the needles will be placed; needles may
be placed at various locations on the body other than where the pain is. There is little to no discomfort when the
needles are inserted and removed from the skin.
The needles may remain in place for 10-20 minutes. Everyone responds a little differently to
acupuncture, with some people feeling relaxed and others feeling more
energized. There are some risks and side
effects associated with acupuncture that you should consult a licensed
professional about before receiving this treatment.
Chiropractic
This procedure involves manipulation, using a controlled,
sudden force, of a bone or bones to improve mobility and restore proper
alignment. There may be a pop or crack
associated with the manipulation. After
treatment, minor side effects may include headache, fatigue, or pain. There are some risks and serious
complications associated with chiropractic adjustment. Do not receive chiropractic treatment if you
have an increased risk of stroke, a known bone abnormality, cancer,
numbness/tingling/weakness in an extremity, or severe arthritis.
Cupping therapy
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There are different types of cupping therapy – dry cupping
and wet cupping. Most practitioners
within the United States practice dry cupping.
With this treatment technique, suction cups are placed over the
treatment areas to assist with pain and promote healing of injured
tissues. Different from massage therapy
in which the body tissues are compressed, cupping therapy utilizes negative
pressure to separate the tissues. This
treatment may be used to treat pain, depression, gastrointestinal conditions,
headaches, respiratory congestion, and break down scar tissue. Side effects after treatment may be more
intense when first starting cupping therapy but lessen as you continue to
receive treatment. Side effects are
different for everyone and include fatigue, soreness, hunger, no appetite,
thirst, and headaches. The most common
side effect after treatment is the presence of circular red/purple markings
over the treatment areas. These markings
will go away on their own within a week’s time.
Cupping therapy should not be performed on individuals with certain
medical conditions. Consult a certified
cupping therapist before receiving this treatment.
Dry needling
This practice is based on modern Western medicine. Very thin, non-hallow needles are placed in
areas of the body with increased muscle tightness or pain to help relieve discomfort
and increase mobility. There can be up
to 3 treatments a week of dry needling.
Unlike acupuncture, the needles are placed where the pain or injury is
located. The number of treatments is
dependent upon the individual’s diagnosis and its severity. There is little to no discomfort when the
needles are inserted and removed from the skin.
While the needles are in place, the individual will experience a deep,
dull aching, and the needles may remain in place for up to 20 minutes. There are some risks and side effects
associated with dry needling that you should consult a licensed professional
about before receiving this treatment.
Massage therapy
Involves the manipulation of the body’s soft tissues to
decrease pain, promote healing, and relieve stress. This type of treatment uses different
techniques of varying movements and amount of pressure.
Meditation
During this type of mind-body medicine, the goal is to
achieve internal focus, in which random thoughts are minimized. There are many different forms of meditation,
however, most involve being in a comfortable, relaxed position in a quiet
environment to concentrate with an open attitude. Meditation has been shown to help decrease
anxiety, burnout, depression, fatigue, insomnia, and stress. This technique may also increase
concentration, inner peace, and relaxation.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a form of meditation. This type of meditation involves being
intensely aware of your current senses and feelings without analysis or
judgment. Mindfulness includes
breathing techniques, guided imagery, and various other acts to promote
relaxation.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy seeks to prevent injuries/illnesses and to
also assist in promoting healing and recovery after an injury/illness. Through a balance of various manual
therapies, exercises, and therapeutic activities, physical therapy improves
both function and mobility, as well as decreases pain. Various orthopedic, neurological, cardiac,
respiratory, and general medical conditions, in addition to general
deconditioning may be treated with physical therapy.
Pilates
This is a type of low-impact exercise which increases core muscle
strength and endurance. Exercises are
completed using your own body weight and springs. By targeting the core muscles, overall muscle
control and stability are improved, thereby also promoting enhanced flexibility,
posture, and proper movement patterns. These
benefits of Pilates assist with injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Rolfing
This type of deep tissue manipulation seeks to improve
postural alignment, structure, and body function. By influencing the connective tissues of the
body, Rolfing affects the movement patterns of the body. Benefits of this treatment including
increased range of motion, improved posture, reduced pain, and reduced stress.
Yoga
Yoga combines emotional and mental awareness with different
physical poses to help relieve stress and improve flexibility. There are different types of yoga, but the
commonality among each type is integrating deep, slow, steady breathing with
specific poses.
By: J. Scott, DPT, ATC, TSAC-F
Sources:
American Academy of Manipulative Therapy
The Mayo Clinic
The International Cupping Therapy Association
WebMD
American Academy of Manipulative Therapy
The Mayo Clinic
The International Cupping Therapy Association
WebMD
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