If you take part in sport, whether as an amateur or professionally, there will be times when you suffer from sports injuries unless you are exceedingly lucky. Most people are not, and the result is that they can be in pain for days or weeks and at the very least unable to participate. At the worst, it could mean losing their livelihood.
More and more couples in the Western world are suffering from infertility in the 21st century, and it is a fact that doctors don’t know why. Furthermore, it is affecting both sexes. The sperm count of males is reducing, while at the same time more couples are leaving it until later in life to start a family as they try to boost their careers and establish a sound financial footing before doing so.
At Acubody, our therapists use a lot of bodywork, which in plain English covers various forms of massage, combined with Chinese therapies such as acupuncture and Chinese herbs in London.
Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known by the abbreviation TCM, dates back at least 2,000 years and much of it may be older than that. Although it is that old, it has only gained traction in the West in the last 50 years and is now the subject of numerous studies in order to provide scientific evidence of what works, and possibly what does not.
Recent research has suggested that anything up to 30% of the global population could be suffering from some form of anxiety. Medical professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual to diagnose and treat various psychological conditions and the latest edition of it lists 13 sub-classifications ranging from shortness of breath and varying heart rate up to full-blown panic attacks.
When you suffer from any sort of sports injury it can be painful. Furthermore, it can mean that you won’t be able to go out and play your sport again tomorrow. Or possibly not even next week, or even for a month. It depends on the extent of the injury, and the tissue and muscle or muscles which have been damaged.
There is absolutely no doubt that rest and recuperation can aid recovery from sports injuries, but most people – especially professionals – need to get back to playing their sport as soon as possible. Even if you are not a professional, when you take part in a sport for the purpose of enjoyment and also with the object of keeping your body fit, you will still want to get back to your sport as soon as you can.
It has been estimated that at some point during their lives, four out of every five people will suffer from some sort of back pain. Somewhat strangely, this may occur more between the ages of 35 and 65, but this may be a result of an individual’s occupation. In fact, it has also been reported that back pain is the second most common reason people in the UK visit their GP’s, with some 7 million visits a year.
There is no doubt that infertility is on the increase in the West. According to a study by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, sperm counts in men have halved in the last 40 years and are currently declining at a rate of 1.4% a year. Professor Chris Barratt of Dundee University said that the study “should ring alarm bells”.
If you have suffered any type of sports injury in London, the specialist therapists at Acubody can help you. A sports massage is based on Swedish massage and it is quite a strong form of deep massage which has the effect of increasing blood flow and circulation, releasing tension, and breaking down adhesions, which some people know as “knots”. In addition, it helps to prevent the formation of too much scar tissue which helps to speed up recovery from soft tissue injuries which can be acquired in any sporting activity.
When we use the word “medicine” in the UK, we think of things that we take internally such as tablets or liquids. However, Chinese medicine covers a range of different therapies as well. Certainly, there are Chinese herbs which come under the overall umbrella of Chinese medicine, but it also includes acupuncture, which as most people know involves the insertion of very fine needles into the surface of the body, shiatsu – which is a form of massage, moxibustion – which is burning of herbs close to the skin, movement and exercise, and more.
In the UK, we think of the word “medicine” to mean something such as pills or fluids which we take internally. However “Chinese medicine” covers much more, and includes body practices such as acupuncture, tai chi (which is a form of movement), moxibustion (burning herbs close to the skin in order to increase the flow of blood), cupping (applying a heated cup to the skin in order to create a slight suction), Chinese herbal medicines, qi gong (a practice that combines specific body movements or postures, breathing, and mental focus), and dietary therapy.
