Sports Acupuncturist

“Why wait for an injury to strike? 🛑 Acupuncture isn’t just for recovery—it’s a powerful tool for prevention. By targeting key motor points, we help you stay strong and resilient, reducing your risk of injuries before they happen. Train smarter, not harder!

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a chronic pain disorder caused by trigger points in the muscles, leading to pain, stiffness, and limited movement. Acupuncture can help alleviate MPS by stimulating these trigger points with fine needles, which promotes blood flow, releases muscle tension, and encourages the body’s natural pain-relief mechanisms. This can lead to reduced pain and improved muscle function, providing relief for those suffering from MPS.

Full meta- analysis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38765261/

Muscle imbalances can lead to Achilles tendon pain by disrupting the natural alignment and function of the foot and ankle. When certain muscles are stronger or tighter than others, they can create uneven stress on the Achilles tendon. For example, tight calf muscles can increase tension on the tendon, while weak muscles in the feet or lower legs may lead to poor foot mechanics, causing the tendon to work harder to compensate. Over time, this additional strain can cause inflammation, microtears, and pain in the Achilles tendon, making it crucial to address muscle imbalances to prevent and alleviate discomfort.

Teams are taking their game to the next level by adding orthopedic acupuncturists to their rosters! This innovative approach helps athletes recover faster, reduce pain, and enhance overall performance. 🏆✨

A new study shows that acupuncture improves sleep in those with Parkinson’s. Read my take on it here:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/acupuncture-sleep-quality-parkinsons-disease -does-not-replace-traditional-treatment

With so many gadgets out there for posture and pain, it is hard to determine what actually works and what doesn’t. To make things more complicated, the answer is not straight forward. It will really depend on your posture and muscular imbalances. What may be good for one person, will be wrong for another. It is important to do a thorough exam to find out what is needed for a particular individual. Full article below:

https://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/2546312/spine-back-stretcher-safe/

🏋️‍♂️ Unlock Your Athletic Potential!🏃‍♀️

Athletes, are you maximizing your performance and staying injury-free? Discover why Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), Range of Motion (ROM) Testing, and Overhead Squat Assessment (OSA)are game-changers! 🏆

🌟 Identify Weaknesses & Imbalances
🌟 Prevent Injuries
🌟 Enhance Flexibility
🌟 Optimize Performance

Dive into our latest blog to learn how these assessments can help you push limits and achieve your goals. Link in bio! 🔗

https://www.sportsacupuncturist.com/blog-1/the-importance-of-manual-muscle-testing-range-of-motion-testing-and-overhead-squat-assessment-for-athletes

Full article:

https://www.bodybuildingreviews.com/best-shoulder-exercises

Orthopedic acupuncture is an effective treatment for maintaining the health of the rotator cuff by stimulating blood flow, reducing inflammation, and promoting tissue repair. By targeting specific acupuncture points, it helps to alleviate pain and improve mobility. This holistic approach not only aids in the recovery of injured rotator cuff muscles but also strengthens them, preventing future injuries and enhancing overall shoulder function.

Meet De. Lijana Shestopal, DTCM, C.SMA, an orthopedic acupuncturist specializing in sports acupuncture. With a deep understanding of the body’s biomechanics and a passion for enhancing athletic performance, Dr. Lijana Shestopal, DTCM combines traditional acupuncture techniques with modern orthopedic knowledge to help athletes recover from injuries, improve their performance, and maintain optimal health. At Sports Acupuncturist, she is dedicated to providing personalized care that targets the root causes of pain and dysfunction, ensuring that every athlete can achieve their peak potential.

Dr. Lijana Shestopal DTCM, L.Ac, C.SMA is an Illinois State Licensed Acupuncturist and a board certified herbalist. She is a Diplomat in Oriental Medicine as certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Dr. Lijana Shestopal graduated with her master’s degree in Oriental Medicine from Midwest College of Oriental Medicine in Chicago, and completed doctorate in Traditional Chinese Medicine at Five Branches University in California.

In addition to her extensive training in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lijana Shestopal is also one of only 160 practitioners worldwide that has completed a Certified Sports Medicine Acupuncture Specialist® program.

Discover how motor points can enhance muscle activation and athletic performance in this concise guide. Learn about the role of motor points in neuromuscular communication, efficient energy use, injury prevention, and faster recovery. Unlock the secrets to optimizing muscle function and boosting your athletic capabilities with targeted motor point therapy.

Unlock the secrets to peak athletic performance with a deep dive into proprioception and motor points. Discover how targeting specific nerve entry points can enhance muscle activation, improve coordination, and prevent injuries, giving athletes the edge they need to excel in their sport. Dive in to learn how this holistic approach can transform your training and recovery, ensuring you stay at the top of your game.

Full blog:
https://www.sportsacupuncturist.com/blog-1/mastering-movement-how-motor-points-enhance-proprioception-for-peak-athletic-performance

https://www.thezoereport.com/wellness/acupuncture-for-anxiety

Acupuncture is highly beneficial for athletes dealing with anxiety, as it offers a natural and holistic approach to mental wellness. By stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture helps regulate the nervous system, reduce stress hormones, and promote relaxation. This ancient practice can enhance overall mental clarity, improve sleep quality, and boost energy levels, allowing athletes to perform at their best both mentally and physically. Additionally, acupuncture can aid in the recovery process by alleviating muscle tension and pain, contributing to an athlete’s overall well-being.

Athletes are increasingly turning to orthopedic acupuncture for its targeted approach to pain relief and injury recovery. Unlike regular acupuncture, which focuses on balancing the body’s energy flow, orthopedic acupuncture zeroes in on specific musculoskeletal issues. By stimulating precise points, it helps reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and accelerate the healing of joints and muscles. This specialized treatment not only aids in faster recovery but also enhances overall performance and prevents future injuries. Experience the difference with orthopedic acupuncture and unlock your full athletic potential!

I get asked this question multiple times a day. While dry needling is actually a form of Ashi style needling, which has been part of Chinese Medicine for thousands of years, most people associate it with something their physical therapist might do. Ashi stands for “that’s the point” as in needling where it hurts. Dry needling, or the more accurate description “trigger point needling” does not have set points and the practitioner needles into points that might reproduce symptoms or feel tender.

Orthopedic acupuncture is a complete system of healing. In orthopedic acupuncture we use a variety of muscle tests to determine muscle health and whether the muscle is working properly and supporting your daily activities or not. To activate the muscles we use motor points, which are fixed points and in most people they are in approximately the same locations.

At Sports Acupuncturist, we practice both forms of needling. While trigger point needling (some people know it as dry needling) can give you some relief, orthopedic acupuncture not only helps with pain relief but also deals with the root cause of why the pain started in the first place.

For full blog see below:

https://www.sportsacupuncturist.com/blog-1/is-dry-needling-the-same-as-orthopedic-acupuncture

Sports acupuncture clinic located in Northbrook. Specializing in eliminating pain, reducing risk of injury, improving range of motion and improving mobility.

Glutes are very important for back support. Strong glutes will support your back minimizing risk of injury and reducing low back pain.

Muscle health is extremely important in treating and preventing injury. If the posture is not correct, there will be muscle imbalance. What that means is that some muscles will be working too hard to overcompensate for the muscles that are not engaged. Through specific techniques, at Sports Acupuncturist, we are able to test and see which muscles need to be strengthened. This not only treats muscles, joints, ligaments, it also prevents injury.

Carbohydrates are very much necessary for the human body. Especially for athletes. The timing of when they are consumed can make or break performance. When it comes to daily living, timing of when you eat carbs can lower your cortisol levels, which results in lowered anxiety, better sleep.

While there is NO safe amount of alcohol, latest study in Lancet states that over two tablespoons of alcohol in people under 40 start showing health loss. Alcohol has been classified as group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It has been directly linked with many cancers: esophagus, liver, breast, colon, oral cavity, re**um, pharynx, larynx.

Alcohol has also been shown to atrophy the brain. The good news is that once there is abstinence from alcohol, the brain can start recovering.

Muscles are one of the most under appreciated tissues in the body. They are not just the tissue that helps you move and lift things. It is an organ that has a lot of jobs that include metabolism, hormone regulation, anti-aging properties, anti-inflammatory properties, etc.

Ever notice that the muscle that is oh so famous for being tight/tense (the traps) notoriously is very hard to loosen up? Massage helps for a bit but it just goes back to being tense after a day or two. This may be due to the imbalance of its antagonist- latissimus dorsi muscle. A lot of times in cases of tight traps, lats will be weak. To strengthen it you can do specific exercises, corrective exercises and acupuncture!

The benefits of weight training are so great that no other exercise form comes close to comparing to it. It is the single best thing you could do to stay healthy not only now but as you age as well.

✔️Muscle building not only grows your muscle and makes you stronger, it also strengthens connective tissue as well, which reduces musculoskeletal pain.

✔️Building muscle has also shown to reduce insulin resistance, which so many people have and may not even know. Reducing insulin resistance has shown to reduce all-cause mortality risk.

✔️Weight lifting has also shown to balance hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. Once you balance one hormone, the rest start falling into place as well.

✔️ This amazing form of exercise has also shown to reduce age-related cognitive decline, such as people with Alzheimer’s.

✔️Myokines, which are proteins released by skeletal muscles during contractions, have been shown to decrease inflammation in the body, promote bone strength, and even reduce tumor growth. If you are new to weight lifting, it is very important to hire a trainer so they can evaluate your posture and adjust your workouts and show you the proper form so you do not get injured.

For more info, visit:

https://www.sportsacupuncturist.com/acupuncture

Getting acupuncture regularly is extremely beneficial for preventing a myriad of issues. People spend a lot of time in front of computers, which can weaken some muscles and put strain on others. Once movement at the gym is added, all the muscles that are out of balance are locked and loaded for an injury. An acupuncturist specializing in orthopedics can easily evaluate your posture and see what might be out of balance. Acupuncture can strengthen weak muscles and release muscles that are in spasm. Studies also show that this not only prevents injury but also improves the muscle performance at the gym!

There are some very simple daily exercises you can do to ensure a healthy spine! Taking care of your spine will not only prevent headaches, shoulder issues, but also lower back pain, lower extremity pain, sciatica, etc..

follow link for full article:

https://www.bustle.com/wellness/does-your-back-ever-hurt-experts-say-these-little-things-can-help-a-lot

Proper posture is very important in order for us to live a pain free life. Thanks to our phones and computers, head forward posture is very common in today's world. This can increase headaches, migraines, shoulder pain, neck pain.

Sports Acupuncturist updated their address.

Intervertebral discs contain up to 85% of water. Throughout the day, the discs lose water. If we do not re-hydrate properly, the inner core of the discs shrink and can lose shock absorbing capability. This can lead to further spine degeneration, which eventually results in back pain.

For more information visit.
https://www.sportsacupuncturist.com/blog-1/what-does-your-tongue-say-about-you

Acupuncture is not just for pain conditions. It has been shown to reduce severity of migraines, help with nausea, help with anxiety & depression, and boost overall mood! For more info visit:

https://www.sportsacupuncturist.com/blog-1/five-ways-acupuncture-can-provide-pain-relief-and-make-your-life-better