Boulder Sports Acupunture

Sunday Ride

2012-01-29T10:20:00.001-08:00

Of to demo the Pearl PRO LTD bib short today. Going without knee warmers! Will report later!
Riz

Sent from my iPhone

Weekend Riding...

2012-01-23T07:56:00.001-08:00

And what a great weekend it was. I had an AWESOME time riding with my buddies Tim and Mat despite the wind, which we seemed to find every time it was blowing! I was able to log 90 miles in January. Our town is amazing!

See you on the road,

Steven

Included is a picture of my trusted war pony. Well ridden through so much and never once complained.

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

Weekend Riding....

2012-01-22T18:22:00.001-08:00

See you on the road,

Steven

Included is a picture of my trusted war pony. Well ridden through so much and never once complained.

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

What A Gift!

2011-12-01T22:18:00.001-08:00

A special delivery from Charlie, custom inside sales rep at Pearl iZUMi, brought this Garmin Slipstream climber's jersey and P.R.O LTD Bib Short to the clinic yesterday. This stuff is awesome! I cant ride like an amateur with this stuff on so I will be training all winter long to be ready for next year! Bring it Mat, Shep, Randy, and Randell!!!

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

Acupuncture as an Essential Health Benefit

2011-10-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

Why is acupuncture an added insurance benefit only for people who can afford it? Including it as an Essential benefit means it becomes mainstream and covered. It lowers overall health costs by avoiding drugs and surgery, augments recovery when you use western medicine. Why is it only for the well to do? You can change this! And we are going to need every one of my friends and all of your friends too! We need 100,000 signatures in 2 weeks, so follow this link to sign a letter to the US Secretary of Health, Share this, and watch what the people's medicine can do!

Please click the hyperlink below and send a letter to Congress recommending acupuncture as a service that should be considered as a"essential health benefit" for all Americans.

Its just a few clicks!

http://aaaom.rallycongress.com/5247/acupuncture-as-an-essential-health-benefit/?m=2190942

The Doctor Is In Meditation

2011-10-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

Check out the article that I was interviewed for in Elevation Outdoors Magazine! Its about the use of "alternative" therapies to treat athletes/ active people.

The Doctor Is In Meditation
By CHRIS KASSAR on SEPTEMBER 5, 2011

... On an early winter ascent in 1981, Steve Ilg, a sponsored rock and ice climber, made a move on the east face of Longs Peak that unearthed a stone slab the size of an office desk. He and the chunk, already loose due to continuous freeze-thaw action on the Diamond, plummeted 60 feet to the earth where they landed… with a splash. The water bottles attached to Ilg’s pack cushioned his fall. “My climbing partner said that when I hit, a burst of water exploded instead of me. I guess those bottles are why I’m alive,” says the 48-year-old Ilg, shrugging his shoulders. “But what really saved me––what allowed me to continue to pursue my outdoor passions––were yoga, bodywork, meditation and my breath.”
Ilg fractured his spine and “tore, twisted and shocked my pelvis into a state of absolute dysfunction.” Doctors dismissed the possibility that he would ever participate in sports again because the nerve impingement and disc damage was so severe. They recommended a series of surgeries, but made no promises of a full recovery. “They basically told me that I would have to be satisfied with a more sedentary life,” Ilg remembers. “But I knew there had to be a better way.”
Ilg, who had been studying yoga in Boulder (in addition to reaching champion level status as a runner, skier and bodybuilder), decided against the surgeries. He also dropped out of physical therapy after only one session, opting instead for his own combination of visualization, meditation, breath work and yoga. He was able to walk again within one month, returning to big walls in six. Between then and now, he has won 200 championships in over 23 sports. In addition, he has dedicated his life to helping other athletes heal and perform through a holistic approach that combines yoga, meditation and nutrition with cardio and strength training.
“For me, self-healing quickly became synonymous with self-transformation,” he says. “I still sustain rigorous practices in yoga and meditation, and perform at an even higher level than before my fall.”
Ilg may be an extreme example in terms of his unusual athletic prowess and the brutal injury he sustained, but the therapies he used to heal himself 30 years ago are gaining popularity today. By definition, complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) entail a spectrum of ancient to new-age approaches that are not part of conventional Western medicine. A study by the National Institute of Health estimates that approximately 40 percent of American adults now use some form of CAM. Acupuncture, deep breathing exercises, massage therapy, meditation, naturopathy and yoga all increased in use among adults according to a study conducted between 2002 and 2007 by the National Center for Health Statistics.
High-profile athletes like LeBron James and Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas have used acupuncture and yoga to stay healthy. Many pro and collegiate clubs, from cycling teams to football squads, have alternative practitioners like massage therapists and acupuncturists on staff. Outdoor athletes—mountain bikers, hikers, climbers, trail runners—are no different. As a result, things like ‘yoga for athletes,’ ‘sports acupuncture’ and ‘therapeutic sports massage’ are increasingly present and popular, especially on the Front Range, where fitness is core to the culture and some of the best athletes in the world come to train. But, how do they work and why are athletes—from weekend warriors to pros—increasingly drawn to acupuncture, yoga and massage for healing and recovery?
Getting to the Root
One reason alternative therapies seem to work may be that they take a holistic approach that looks at the entire person, not just their pain, to find the cause of an injury or imbalance. “If we can remove the root,” says Steven Rizzolo, founder of Boulder Sports Acupuncture, “then the branches (the symptoms) go away on their own and we’re more likely to make sure the injury doesn’t return.” Rizzolo’s hybrid practice combines Traditional Chinese Medicine with conventional methods like injection therapy, ultrasound and electronic stimulation according to the needs of the athletes he sees. “Everything I do promotes the healing processes that exist within the body. My treatments are less of a directive and more of a suggestion that the body picks up and carries forward. This way it can do what it naturally wants to, which is fix itself.”
Treatments that focus on only addressing the symptoms or the pain can sometimes miss the mark. “By the time I see an athlete, they have often already tried a number of things and nothing has worked,” says David Abookire, founder of Boulder Therapeutics, which specializes in sport and injury massage. “Alternative therapies look beyond the pain to the patterns behind it. Often, we need to put a system in place that will unwind these patterns and get the body back into balance.” By honing in on the body’s weaknesses and finding the injury’s source, practitioners can empower athletes to care for themselves over the long term.
Alternative therapies emphasize the importance of incorporating the mind in treating the whole person. “We can affect the brain through massage so it can release what’s causing tension in the body,” says Kay Levesque, a massage therapist and competitive athlete. “If an athlete can tune into their body and relax on the table, I can give them strategies for taking that onto the trail where it will also help.”
Steph Schwartz, a yoga instructor and accomplished ultra-runner, explains how the mind-body connection can play into healing injury. “Yoga is all about focus and being present. It allows you to get to know yourself more so you can get to the root of the things you are holding onto that may be manifesting themselves through your physical body.”
Chris Klinga, an experienced climber crushed by a rock the size of a coffee table while belaying a friend in Eldorado Canyon used yoga to get beyond the physical and into the mental aspect of healing. He broke both legs and feet and shattered his pelvis. After 13 surgeries and physical therapy, he added yoga, acupuncture and massage to his recovery regime. “The biggest part of coming back strong from an injury is training your mind. I really had to strengthen my head, and that’s one thing that Eastern medicine definitely does better than Western medicine. Since the accident, I would consider myself way stronger mentally.”
Matching the Mindset
Athletes are often a different breed: health focused, driven, results-oriented. From pro endurance mountain bikers to casual joggers, no one wants to hear they have to stop doing what they love. Time off can be detrimental to all aspects of an athlete’s life, from career, to team, to family, to psyche. “When you’re treating athletes, there’s a totally different mindset,” explains Boulder Therapeutics’ Abookire. “The focus has to be on helping an athlete heal so they can get back in action, back to what they enjoy—whether it’s running 100-mile races or going on a short hike.”
Alternative treatments such as acupuncture, massage and yoga are not invasive, have limited side effects and don’t require recovery time like surgery. In other words, athletes can often continue training while undergoing these treatments. “I was drawn to alternative options because if you go see a doctor they say to ‘take a break’. Well this is basically my job, so a break isn’t really an option for me unless it’s a serious injury,” says Adriana Pirtea Nelson, a top distance runner who logs up to 110 trail miles per week and is gunning for a shot on the 2012 Olympic team. Nelson sought alternative treatment for a nagging hamstring injury that had been holding her back for three years. “It’s important to find practitioners who are athletes themselves and work specifically with athletes. They know where you are coming from and focus on treatments to get you back to where you were instead of giving you pills and saying to take time off.”
After trying a host of conventional medical treatments, she went to Rizzolo, drawn to his expertise in Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques like acupuncture, and his experience with ‘dry needling,’ a new technique that directly releases tension in a painfully bound muscle by stimulating it with a thin needle. Traditional Chinese Medicine is effective because it increases energy flow and awareness to traumatized areas while also balancing the entire body so that rebuilding can occur. Nelson says she felt less pain in it after only one session with Rizzolo. ”I knew then that I was going to be a champion again.”
Ilg echoes a similar sentiment to explain why he sought alternative methods after his fall on Longs. “In those moments, we default to who we respect and who we want to emulate. If I had known Western MDs who radiated presence and were athletes then maybe, but all my teachers were rock climbers, Tibetan monks, yogis… so that’s where I went.”
And yet the mindset of an athlete can present some challenges to the healing process. Athletes tend to be in tune with their bodies, but they have also learned how to push through and ignore pain, says Liam McClintock, a naturopath and acupuncturist in Boulder. “This can help in the short term, but over the long term it can be detrimental. Sometimes you just have to rest. Getting people to listen and discover what their pain is about is part of being a good practitioner.”
Education and understanding are essential for an athlete to receive the full benefit that these therapies have to offer. For example, these methods do not always provide the immediate results that come from taking a pill. “Sometimes athletes want an immediate change. I explain that their injury didn’t happen overnight so they need to give it time. Slow and steady improvements endure,” says Rizzolo.
Beyond Healing
The minds and bodies of healthy, uninjured athletes can also benefit from alternative therapies. Practicing yoga adds strength, balance and flexibility, which can prevent injury and enhance performance. It also increases focus, breath and relaxation skills which are helpful during the crux of competition.
Schwartz, who became a yoga teacher after using it as a tool to enhance performance and remain injury-free while racing ultras like the Leadville 100, says that yoga helps develop the mind-body awareness to perform at optimum efficiency. Learning to maintain an unrestricted breathing pattern while moving through yoga poses, for example, is a similar to the breath function required when running or biking or climbing for a long period of time. “For the body, yoga is really restorative and helps recovery, but it also cultivates a mindfulness that mimics what you need on the trail,” she says.
Acupuncture works to aid recovery and increase performance in a completely different way than yoga. Needles placed in specific spots activate meridians (energy lines) and move energy through the body. Preliminary scientific reviews in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 2001 & 2010 suggest that this enhances performance in resistance and endurance sports. Rizzolo explains that Traditional Chinese Medicine can also help with recovery by “filling the gas tank” when it is depleted from vigorous training or competition.
This is why, even after healing her hamstring, Nelson continues to get acupuncture and massage as she works toward the Olympics. “I’ve been running extremely tough courses this season that I normally need a week to recover from. With acupuncture and massage, it takes me only two or three days to recover, so I can train even harder.”
Besides just feeling good, therapeutic massage increases blood flow, feeds tissue with nutrients, removes waste and decreases lactic buildup to help the body perform more economically. And you don’t need to be a professional athlete to benefit from regular massage work. “Massage and yoga are part of my regular training, just like eating well and getting a lot of good sleep,” says Jennifer Kwasniewski, a seasoned amateur athlete who recently made the leap to running ultras.
However, there are limitations to what alternative therapies alone can accomplish. As a result, many practitioners emphasize the need to thoroughly and honestly evaluate patients and collaborate with others. “It’s our responsibility to bring Western and Eastern medicine together to better serve our patients,” says Rizzolo.
Michelle Grainger, an elite cyclist, mountain biker and coach, embraced a conglomeration of treatments to recover after a truck hit her while she was riding her bike. She needed five surgeries and extensive physical therapy, but she also used yoga, acupuncture, massage, Tibetan healing and Feldenkrais. “You name it. I’ve tried it,” she says. “As a 20-year veteran athlete, I did everything it took to train better, to perform better, to recover more quickly and to maximize every single little edge I could come up with. Why wouldn’t I do the same to heal myself?”
While alternative therapies may not be for everyone, for some, like Ilg, they are life changing. He calls his fall from Long’s Peak his greatest blessing. “Without it, I would have missed so many inner lessons. Healing myself holistically has taught me that pain is purification.”
EO’s assistant editor, Chris Kassar is co-founder of Rios Libres.

Grand Re-Opening and Open House Celebration!!!

2011-09-12T07:28:00.001-07:00

Hello!

As a new Fall Season approaches, I am happy to announce the expanded location of Boulder Sports Acupuncture and the wonderful things happening at my practice.

With the move to a beautiful new location came a new modality, MASSAGE! At the open house you will be able to try a massage from Tamara Quezaire of Massage moment Advanced Therapy as well as auricular treatments from me, Steven Rizzolo.

The main thing that HAS NOT changed is the thoughtful, professional, and effective care you receive. Each acupuncture treatment is skillfully tailored to your exact needs.

If you haven't visited in a while, please do so. Your mind and body will thank you. There will be food, drinks, and plenty of fun!

See you there,

Steven

RSVP is greatly appreciated

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

Best Vacation EVER!

2011-08-23T11:28:00.001-07:00

I have to thank Megan so much for planing an amazing backpacking trip followed by a bed and breakfast stay in Salida. And just in case you are wondering, Megan took me to the first stage of the Pro Cycling Challenge for a birthday surprise!!!

You are amazing Megan:)
Pictures and stories to come!

Mountain Top Vacation

2011-08-19T12:07:00.001-07:00

Heading out of town for end of summer vacation! "Lost" in the wilderness....

Update soon

Sent from my iPhone

New Water Feature At Boulder Sports Acupuncture

2011-08-08T09:09:00.001-07:00

Good morning everyone,

For a while now I have wanted to have a water-element feature in the clinic. I am excited to share we now have one! Picture quality is not the greatest but I think it looks pretty chic, what do you think? Its good to have some water in the clinic to counter balance all the fire of Megan, Tamara, and myself!

I want to thank David of North End Interiors for helping me with the install. Could not have done without him. It took us around 6 hours!

All the best,

Steven

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

Cleanse discount for CPY students!

2011-07-15T09:41:00.001-07:00

Hello Core Power students. Steven Rizzolo is offering a reduced rate to everyone who is participating in the current cleanse. The special rate is only good while on the cleanse. Treatments will specifically focus on supporting the digestive mechanism and promoting the cleansing process.

Call or email with questions and to set up an appointment!

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

Big J-Town Loop by steven@bouldersportsacupuncture at Garmin Connect - Details Big J-Town Loop by steven@bouldersportsacupuncture at Garmin Connect - Details

2011-07-10T12:37:00.001-07:00

Garmin

Fitness Products

Support

Served By: olaxpw-gco10-a.garmin.com

via connect.garmin.com

Great afternoon ride yesterday. I was lucky and avoided a flash flood in south Boulder with only a light dusting of rain on my way back in. SWEET!!!

Very bad news.....

2011-06-20T10:59:00.001-07:00

This morning team Simple Mobile called in to report a DNF.....

I am very sad for us and to report this. Everyone is healthy and that is great. Just a little disappointing. I will let you know more real soon. Steven

Sent from my iPhone

Day 1 drama

2011-06-19T09:24:00.001-07:00

OMG! On our very first pull of the race about 15 mins in we realize we had been following the wrong course. Lucky for us we figured this out and made the corrections we needed without losing any time.

There is one international team that is very strong this this year from Korea. They have been looking at us pretty hard. The whole race has been pretty close. One last thing... One of our vans got stuck in the sand! Crap!!! It took us an hour to get it out! Were still working hard! Never give up!

Steven
Boulder sports acupuncture Sent from my iPhone

Day 1/ prep day!

2011-06-18T12:57:00.001-07:00

3000 Miles on a BIKE!

2011-06-18T00:22:00.001-07:00

The longest human powered race in the world,

Temperatures from 107 to snowing,

110,000 vertical feet of climbing,

That is the equivalent for climbing Mt. Everest four times,

All of this done in six and a half days!

This is a cycling race called Race Across America (RAAM). RAAM is one of the most respected and longest running endurance sports event in the world. RAAM is seen as a pinnacle of athletic achievement not only in the cycling cycling circles but the greater sporting community as well.

I have the opportunity to be this years team acupuncturist and serve as the rider care lead. I will work to prevent rider injury however in the case of an injury I am prepared to treat it as well. I also will work to educate and advocate for the efficacy of Chinese medicine.

There is no other race in the world like RAAM. This race inspires every one who has taken part in it. It is a test of speed endurance, strength and camaraderie. I am thankful to be part of it.

To follow the race and receive updates:

1. Please like Boulder Sports Acupuncture on Face Book at http://www.facebook.com/bouldersportsacupuncture

2. Also check out http://mysimplemobile.com/RAAM

3. http://www.raceacrossamerica.org

See you soon,

Steven

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

3000 miles on a BIKE!

2011-06-17T23:51:00.001-07:00

The longest human powered race in the world,

Temperatures from 107 to snowing,

110,000 vertical feet of climbing,

That is the equivalent for climbing Mt. Everest four times,

All of this done in six and a half days!

There is no other race in the world like RAAM. This race inspires every one who has taken part in it. It is a test of speed endurance, strength and camaraderie. I am thankful to be part of it.

To follow the race and receive updates:

1.Please like Boulder Sports Acupuncture on Face Book at http://www.facebook.com/bouldersportsacupuncture

2.Also check out http://mysimplemobile.com/RAAM

3.http://www.raceacrossamerica.org

See you soon,

Steven

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

My new office is FINALLY done!

2011-06-16T20:19:00.001-07:00

Finishing this last room took 2 and a half months. But now it's done thanks to the help of Megan and Ashley. You ladies are great. Picture does not it justice so come by and take a look.

Steven
Boulder Sports Acupuncture

www.bouldersportsacupuncture.com

Sent from my iPhone

Almost to launch date!!!

2011-05-23T16:13:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,

Thank you for all of the support and help that you have given during this process! Your efforts are greatly appreciated. I want to give a special thanks to Megan who has spent countless hours of her time painting, assembling furniture, and fighting with online vendors to get the items shipped that I ordered. With out your help I do not know where I would be. Probably still in the design process. AH! I also want to give another special thanks to Karl Dobbratz of Karl Dobbratz Painting for doing such an amazing job with transforming the walls from the design look of an 80's garage sale to the contemporary look I wanted. He showed up ON TIME and worked all day! I am impressed. If you need someone to make your place look new, please give him a call and tell him Steven sent you.

I am planing on moving into the new office this week or next. I am just waiting on some furniture. But in the mean time I have found some substitutes until everything else arrives. This is the home stretch......almost there.

Yours in health,

Steven

Karl Dobbratz Painting

karldpaints@gmail.com

831.521.3048

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

See the full gallery on Posterous

Boulder Sports Acupuncture Office Expansion Update

2011-04-16T21:23:00.001-07:00

Thank you to everyone who contributed feedback on the design of the office expansion. Ashley and I have worked on a hybrid idea that takes elements of both concept boards. Any thoughts on the new concept board?

Steven

Ashley Mullis

The Interior Nest

303-817-9062

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

Introducing the office expansion for Boulder Sports Acupuncture

2011-03-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

I am excited to let you know Boulder Sports Acupuncture is EXPANDING! This is an exciting time for me and my practice. In addition to acupuncture I will be adding physical therapy and the gifted talents of massage therapist Tamara Quezaire C.M.T. These modalities have been added to meet the demands of the modern athlete while maintaining the goal of Boulder Sports Acupuncture to provide a premium and comprehensive treatment clinic that elicits lasting health.

With the opening of the new clinic, I want to create an environment that is conducive to healing. This is why I have asked Ashley Mullis of Mullis Design to create some concepts for the new clinic. Attached are first draft images of two concepts. In the designers words:

The first board we call Embodiment. With embodiment, we want the space to convey the refinement of the human body. Since many of your patients are athletes, we were inspired to create a concept that evokes the well tuned machine that the human body is. This machine, is self contained, reliable, and precise. With this concept, we will design a contemporary space that portrays a well refined machine, by using metallic and glass materials, cool gray colors, clean sharp lines, and even a few curves to create the movement of the active body.

Our second concept uses the elements to portray balance. We were inspired by all elements; air, water, fire, earth, wood and metal, but found most significance in Earth. The Earth element typically effects balance, stability, physical strength, and organization. Using this concept, we will create a design that promotes healing through color therapy such as green and beige, provides comfort and safety, but still uses the refinement of metal and wood. We plan to incorporate all element in the space.

I would like to hear some ideas regarding the concept designs. Please post any comments to the Boulder Sports Acupuncture website blog at www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com

Thank you for your thoughts,
Steven

Ashley Mullis
mullis.ashley@gamil.com
303.817.9062

Tamara Quezaire
innerbalancemassageco.com
720.352.4069

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

Walker Ranch Update

2011-03-14T21:38:00.001-07:00

As the first day of spring approaches I enjoyed a late winter run at Walker Ranch to cap off my weekend. Conditions on the trail was overall dry with spotted patches of snow and puddles with only one extended stretch of shaded single track that was difficult to navigate. I decided to run the trail counter clockwise. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of riding or running the trail clockwise vs. counter clockwise? Let me know!

Steven

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road, Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80305
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637

See the full gallery on Posterous

Caribou Ranch Open Space

2010-11-07T14:22:00.000-08:00

I can’t believe it made it 75 degrees today, the first weekend in November. This time last year we already had two snow storms! So what better way to enjoy the day then to take a hike?

I decided to explore the Caribou Ranch Open Space. Same say it’s Boulder County’s open space crown jewel. While the 4.5 mile round trip hike’s difficulty is easy, it provides some splendid views. And because of the lack of elevation gain, Caribou Ranch may not appeal to hikers who value more rugged terrain. For more information regarding this trail visit www.bouldercounty.org/openspace

But my goal was to research terrain for cross-country skiing this winter. Last year was my first experience with classic style cross-country skiing at Eldora. Being an avid cyclist I found the classic form closely mirrored that of cycling. Because of this the winter activity immediately resonated with me. However, as the season passed by I became jealous of the speed and agility of the skate skiers.

I am hoping you readers can compare and contrast the differences between the classic style of skiing and the skate skiing style. As well as make some recommendations for trails to ski around Boulder this winter.

Steven Rizzolo L.Ac. DOM
www.BoulderSportsAcupuncture.com
303.506.4637
Boulder Sports Acupuncture

Photo provided by Megan Newton Photography
www.MeganNewtonPhotography.com
970.405.7126
Megan Newton Photography

Acupuncture may ease pain by triggering release of natural painkiller

2010-06-02T20:47:00.000-07:00

This article was published in the Guardian on Sunday the 30th May 2010.

Please respond to this post with your opinions and experiences regarding acupuncture as a legitimate medicine as well as your opinion of this study.
__________________________________________________________________
Study in mice suggests that acupuncture relieves pain not just through the placebo effect but also by stimulating cells to pump out the body's own painkiller

Scientists have performed acupuncture on mice with sore paws to pinpoint how the ancient Chinese medical practice might alleviate pain in humans.

After a half-hour session, the mice felt less discomfort in their paws because the needles triggered the release of a natural painkiller, say the researchers. The needles stimulated cells to produce adenosine, an anti-inflammatory and painkilling chemical, that was effective for up to an hour after the therapy was over.

The discovery challenges a widely held view among scientists that any benefit patients feel after having acupuncture is purely due to the placebo effect.

"The view that acupuncture does not have much benefit beyond the placebo effect has really hampered research into the technique," said Maiken Nedergaard, a neuroscientist at the University of Rochester Medical Centre in New York, who led the study.

"Some people think any work in this area is junk research, but I think that's wrong. I was really surprised at the arrogance of some of my colleagues. We can benefit from what has been learned over many thousands of years," Nedergaard told the Guardian.

Acupuncture was developed in China around 4,000 years ago. The procedure involves inserting fine needles at specific points around the body and then heating, twisting or even electrifying them.

Traditional practitioners claim acupuncture works by improving the flow of "qi energy" along "meridians", but the latest research, published in Nature Neuroscience, points to a less mystical explanation.

"I believe we've found the main mechanism by which acupuncture relieves pain. Adenosine is a very potent anti-inflammatory compound and most chronic pain is caused by inflammation," Nedergaard said.

The scientists gave each mouse a sore paw by injecting it with an inflammatory chemical. Half of the mice lacked a gene that is needed to make adenosine receptors, which are dotted along major nerves.

The therapy session involved inserting a fine needle into an acupuncture point in the knee above the sore foot. In keeping with traditional practice, the needles were rotated periodically throughout the half-hour session.

To measure how effective the acupuncture was, the researchers recorded how quickly each mouse pulled its sore paw away from a small bristly brush. The more pain the mice were in, the faster they pulled away.

Writing in the journal, Nedergaard's team describe how acupuncture reduced pain by two thirds in normal mice, but had no effect on the discomfort of mice that lacked the adenosine receptor gene. Without adenosine receptors, the chemical will have no effect on the mice when it is released in their bodies.

The acupunture had no effect at all in either group if the needles were not rotated.

Nedergaard said that twisting the needles seems to cause enough damage to make cells release adenosine. The chemical is then picked up by adenosine receptors on nearby nerves, which react by damping down pain. Further tests on the mice revealed that levels of adenosine surged 24-fold in the tissues around the acupuncture needles during and immediately after each session.

One of the long-standing mysteries surrounding acupuncture is why the technique only seems to alleviate pain if needles are inserted at specific points. Nedergaard believes that most of these points are along major nerve tracks, and as such are parts of the body that have plenty of adenosine receptors.

In a final experiment, Nedergaard's team injected mice with a cancer drug that made it harder to remove adenosine from their tissues. The drug, called deoxycoformycin, boosted the effects of acupuncture dramatically, more than tripling how long the pain relief lasted.

"There is an attitude among some researchers that studying alternative medicine is unfashionable," said Nedergaard. "Because it has not been understood completely, many people have remained sceptical."

Although the study explains how acupuncture can alleviate pain, it sheds no light on any of the other health benefits that some practitioners believe it can achieve.

Posted by Steven Rizzolo owner and primary acupuncturist at Boulder Sports Acupuncture (BSA)

Yoga Teacher Training for Cancer Survivors

2010-05-24T14:38:00.001-07:00

One purpose for the blog at Boulder Sports Acupuncture is education. The following information is for Laura Kupperman's seminar covering how to teach yoga to cancer survivors.

Dear Yogi,
Would you like to:

o Distinguish yourself from other yoga teachers in your community?

o Expand your yoga teaching to a new and deserving clientele?

o Continue your yoga education while giving to others?

o Make a positive difference in the lives of cancer survivors?

Well, now you can! This July, The Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado will be hosting the Yoga for Survivors™ Teacher Intensive. This course includes two major offerings:

1. A six day intensive at The Yoga Workshop and,

2. A full year of mentoring as you begin teaching survivors in your community.

Laura Kupperman leads this course which includes a wonderful array of guest speakers. Laura is a certified yoga therapist, certified yoga instructor, and cancer survivor. She has taught Yoga for Survivors™ in hospitals, clinics, yoga studios, and privately, since 2005. Laura is also a Life & Career Coach who helps independent professionals and small business owners grow their businesses. www.laurakupperman.com

For more detailed information on the course or to register visit www.yogaworkshop.com

Kind regards,

Laura Kupperman

Acupuncturists Without Borders Haiti Relief Effort

2010-02-14T20:11:00.000-08:00

Six years ago I began my journey to become an acupuncturist. I was drawn to this medicine because of its ancient wisdom in promoting harmony in the body, as well as my desire to serve the people in my community in a meaningful way.

It has been my objective to help as many people as I can with acupuncture. To me that meant to administer as many treatments as I can to the people in my community. Last week I was inspired to help the people of Haiti by also helping the people in my community. The inspiration came from my partner’s father. When she asked her father what he wanted for his birthday his reply was, “please make a donation to the Haiti relief fund in my name.”

My goal is to raise $500.00 in the month of February. On Saturday February 20th and 27th all earnings from treatments and patient contributions will be donated to the Acupuncturists Without Borders Haiti Relief Effort. All treatments on those dates will be administered in a community clinic setting. All treatments will be one hour, and the cost is whatever you would like to give. This amount will be donated in your name.

Although I cannot be in Haiti at this time to administer acupuncture, I would like to symbolically serve Haiti by serving you, and together, with your donations, help provide medical treatment to those Haitians in need. This donation will allow Acupuncturists Without Borders to continue their work in Haiti. Please take the time to help Haiti by doing something good for your health.

Please call me at (303) 506-4637 to schedule your appointment or to make a donation.

Acupuncturists Without Borders is a New Mexico based non-profit organization that was originally created to treat the survivors of hurricane Katrina in 2005. To find out more about this organization please visit http://www.acuwithoutborders.org

If you wish to donate supplies, this is a list of items that can always be used:
- .5 cun ear acupuncture needles
- Biohazard containers
- Alcohol swabs, rubber gloves and cotton balls
- Tackle boxes for mobile clinics
- Office supplies including printer cartridges, paper, etc.

Yours in health,
Steven Rizzolo, L.Ac.

Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road Suite 200
Boulder, CO. 80305

A2 Finger Tendon Pulley Injury

2010-02-10T17:11:00.000-08:00

So there I was, another beautiful winter day at Shelf Road near Canon City. For me it is just another day of climbing, and my excited eyes have wandered to a beautiful line ascending the limestone cliff face just ahead. The temperatures are perfect, and before I know it, I am already roped in and fifty feet in the air, about to face the most difficult moves of the route. I take a second to preview the terrain ahead and then take off. I reach my right hand high, having my feet on two little nubs, and sink it in a hole just big enough to fit one finger. As I transfer my weight onto the single finger I feel something start to give and then “pop!” A tingle and gradual pain surge through the finger and then into my hand and forearm. I have just partially torn my A2 pulley, (a ligament that holds the tendon sheath close to the finger bone) and am now out for the count.

It really is an amazing thing when you think about. To have your entire bodyweight hanging on only the tips of your fingers is an amazing anatomical feat! Climbers put a lot of stress on their fingers, so it is no surprise that they can get injured more easily. Unfortunately many climbers also suffer from the affliction of obsession, and the road to recovery from a finger injury can be just as difficult as sending your long time project.

I was out for months and couldn’t put weight on the finger for weeks!! After about two months, I gradually got back into climbing, always making sure to tape around the base to help support the tendon sheath and keep it close to the bone. Still, it would hurt sometimes and I never felt like I had recovered to 100%.

It was not until I was introduced to acupuncture, and specifically “E-Stim”, that my finger actually began to feel as if it were truly recovering. Imagine how good a massage feels when you are sore. Ok, now translate that feeling, but miniaturize it, and zoom in on a small area of the body. We’re talking on a very small scale here, in my case the single finger where the tear occurred. “E-Stim” sends a low electrical current through two points (acupuncture needles) and stimulates the muscle into contracting and relaxing. It essentially helps pump and direct blood into the region of the injury.

For us climbers, this is a very good thing. The tendon/pulley complexes in the finger have fairly poor blood flow compared to other areas in the body, and this sometimes can compound an injury even further. Acupuncture loosens the area and allows for better blood flow. The best part to all this is that no surgery is required and treatments are quick and painless.

I have now gone to Boulder Sports Acupuncture several times, and with the help of Steven Rizzolo, managed my pain and improved my overall recovery from this injury in a very natural way. I no longer have to tape for the majority of climbs and feel stronger than before the injury. Speaking as a previously skeptical person of acupuncture, I am amazed at how much of a positive difference just one treatment can have. Acupuncture might not be for everyone, and the extent of its help can vary from person to person, but I highly recommend checking it out as an alternative to surgery and a way to speed recovery. I am sure that if you visit Boulder Sports Acupuncture, you too will be impressed after only one treatment!
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for the contribution Dan. Along with rotator cuff injury, a strained or torn A2 pulley tendon is one of the most common injuries a climber will experience. Acupuncture with e-stim is very effective in decreasing the pain and discomfort of this injury. More importantly it will decrease the healing time allowing you to get back to doing what you love.

Thank you for reading this patient contributed article on the Boulder Sports Acupuncture blog. Please call or email with questions regarding this injury or anything else you would like to inquire about as well as to schedule an appointment.

For a closer look at this injury, read the article at
http://www.nicros.com/archive/A2_pulley_injury.cfm

And don't forget to comment on this post!

Steven M. Rizzolo, D.OM
Boulder Sports Acupuncture
2935 Baseline Road
Boulder, CO. 80305
303.506.4637

Learn Techniques, Tips and Tools for Off-Season Recovery

2009-10-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
I am excited to announce I will be a guest lecturer at this month’s “Excel Sports Showroom Clinic Series”. This lecture will cover techniques, tips and tools for off-season active recovery and year-round health and fitness. I will be introducing my practice and explaining how I use acupuncture to treat cyclists and athletes for pain management, sports performance, and stress and anxiety.

If you can not make the lecture, it will be recorded and posted to my blog at www.bouldersportsacupuncture.com under the file named “video”.

Thank you,
Steven “Rizzo” Rizzolo
Please forward this to anyone you think might be interested.

Date: Wednesday, November 11th , 2009
Time: 6:30-8:30
Location: Excel Sports
2045 32nd St
Boulder, CO 80301-2501
(303) 444-6737

Please RSVP to james@excelsports.com if you would like to attend.
Seats Fill Fast!

The following is the monthly showroom news letter from Excel Sports Boulder:

Excel Sports Showroom Clinic Series
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
6:30-8:30 pm

Techniques, Tips and Tools for Off-Season Active Recovery
& Year-Round Health and Fitness

Please join us for a clinic focused on helping you be a well rounded, healthy, and pro-active athlete. Living in the Boulder area means we have tremendous exposure to many athletic and healthy lifestyle care and training options. Most coaching services provide great training programs designed to build your strength and cycling fitness, but few cover a more holistic approach to flexibility, integrative strength, active muscle recovery, massage and alternative healing options.

Many such services are readily available, but while some practitioners are readily familiar with the needs of athletes, some are not. Here at Excel we routinely field questions about off-season training, massage, and much more, but we only have our experiences to work with. While we can coherently discuss an integrative approach to life and training, these aren't our specialties.

JP and Marin will lead off the clinic with some general approaches to flexibility, core strength and active recovery. JP has raced on the road and has significant experience off road as well. Marin is more of a mountain bike specialist, but also has a background in athletics, particularly swimming. Their combined experiences and personal interests may mirror yours, and they will share the techniques and tools they have utilized and had success with.

In an effort to provide a more holistic approach we have asked two friends to join us. Stephen Salazar, is our Service Manager and one of the best wheel builders in the country, but to many people he is also known for his work in Massage Therapy. Stephen has a particularly strong background with massage for cyclists, and is an active cyclist himself. As a soigneur for the USCF and Team EDS during the 1990's, Stephen actively applied his skills to high-level amateur and professional cyclists. He will share his thoughts on Pre and Post ride/race massage techniques that you can perform yourself, and introduce you to the TriggerPoint System, a home use tool you can utilize to address flexibility, recovery, myofascial release in the care and prevention of several cycling/triathlon related issues like: IT band problems, cramping, lactic acid breakdown, etc.

Steven Rizzolo of Boulder Sports Acupuncture will introduce his practice to you and explain how he uses acupuncture to treat cyclists and athletes for pain management, sport performance, stress and anxiety, as well as related injuries. As a cyclist and athlete himself, Steven undertook and developed his training with treating athletes as his personal focus. We feel the information and perspective he will bring to this clinic will be of tremendous value, regardless of whether or not you choose such an option yourself, as he will ask you to open your mind to understanding the holistic nature of the human body and how it can be treated to improve your athletic experience while valuing your overall health and well-being.

To be sure, we will cover a substantial amount of information, and this clinic should be considered an introduction, not comprehensive coverage. We want to expose you to new or under-appreciated aspects and methods of a "training program". Each segment will offer opportunity for questions/answers. We truly hope you decide to join us for this event.

Please RSVP to: james@excelsports.com We request this so we can prepare the space and materials we will need for all attendees. We will use our weekly Showroom Specials email for reminders and updates. Thank you from the Excel Showroom Staff: JP, James, Marin

Don't get the Swine Flu!

2009-10-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Artist Luke Jerram's sculptural representation of the ovoid H1N1 Swine Flu virus

We are all concerned about the possibility of a H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic. In America it is not well known that Chinese medicine actually has a very good track record with treating a wide variety of respiratory viruses. When SARS hit a few years back, it was strict precautionary measures and Chinese herbal medicine that got Asia through the crisis.

According to the CDC the week of October 4-10, 2009, influenza activity continued to increase in the United States. Flu activity is now widespread in 41 states. Nationwide, visits to doctors for influenza-like-illness continued to increase and are now about equal to or higher than what is seen at the peak of many regular flu seasons. In addition, flu-related hospitalizations and deaths are continuing to go up and are above what is expected for this time of year.

This article is ment to educate you on the facts about H1N1 and how Chinese medcine can help proetct you during flu season as well as treatment for initial expouser and fully egnaged phases of the flu.

What Are the Symptoms to Watch for?
The Centers for Disease Control has stated that the symptoms for swine flu are to be considered "similar to regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea."

What Is the Pathogenesis of Swine Flu?
Unlike the common cold, which attaches to the adenoids, the influenza virus attaches to the lung tissue itself. The lungs become inflamed and the body reacts with "flu-like symptoms." Incubation for most influenza viruses are from 1-4 days. It is not yet known for certain whether H1N1 follows the same incubation pattern.

Two reasons that make the H1N1 virus so dangerous
1) The virus directly attaches the respiratory system. As a result of lung tissue damage, the patient is much more vulnerable to bacterial growth that can lead to phenomena.
2) Young people with otherwise strong immune systems are not exempt from the virus.

What Can Chinese Medcine Do For YOU?
The answer is: Chinese Medicine can do a lot! It is best to break down treatment options into three phases. The phases are: Prevention Phase, Initial Exposure Phase, Fully Engaged Phase.

1) PREVENTION PHASE
Prior to exposure, it is recommended to support the immune system in order to prevent the virus of a future exposure from forming full attachment. In Chinese medicine a strong immune system is characterized by a firm and well-regulated exterior. This means the wei qi (defensive qi) is strengthened with herbal medicine. The wei qi is another name for immune system. The Prevention Phase formulas are only effective prior to the onset of symptoms. So do not wait to start taking herbs that defend against a viral attack!

2) INITIAL EXPOSURE PHASE
If exposure is certain or probable (one example is traveling by airplane), there is a little time to try to kill the virus before it has a chance to reach full strength replication. The incubation period of most influenza is from 1-4 days before symptoms begin. What this knowledge affords us is at least one day, possibly more, to try and kill the virus after a known or suspected exposure. Initial Exposure Phase formulas can be used effectively if symptoms are limited to a tickle in the throat, mild lethargy, slight loss of appetite, or body aches.

If symptoms do not abate within the first 24 hours of use, it is recommended to switch to a Fully Engaged Phase formula or to combine Initial Exposure Phase formulas with Fully Engaged Phase formulas. After the Initial Exposure Phase, the value of Initial Exposure Phase formulas is limited when used alone. The reason for this limitation is that the antiviral action by itself only serves to inhibit the replication of the virus once it is fully engaged with the lung organ. They do not dislodge the virus from the lung tissue, nor do they regulate the body's immune response to the pathogen. It is now time to change to Fully Engaged Phase formula.

3) FULLY ENGAGED PHASE
As stated above, what distinguishes the Fully Engaged Phase physiologically is the attachment of the virus to the lung tissue. Viral replication has reached peak production, and the body's immune response is now occupying or even consuming all available qi. The most common or characteristic symptoms are racing pulse, headache, significant loss of appetite, high fever, pronounced fatigue/weakness, chest discomfort with or without cough, and sometimes body aches. Other, less frequent symptoms can include sore throat, sinus symptoms, diarrhea, or vomiting. At this phase, the strongest formulas that relax the attachment between the lung tissue and the virus are used. Frequently the antiviral formulas in the Prevention Phase are used in conjunction.

What is most important to remember is not to wait till the Fully Engaged Phase before seeking treatment. All of these formulas can be purchased at Boulder Sports Acupuncture. I will teach you when and how to take them. Don’t let the flu season interrupt your life. Let’s get to work now to prevent the flu later.

Steven M. Rizzolo MSOM, Dipl. OM, L.Ac.

Please comment and ask questions.

The 1st Post on Boulder Sports Acupuncture's Blog

2009-09-07T21:29:00.000-07:00

Thank you for visiting the website and blog of Boulder Sports Acupuncture. I look forward to educational discussions and sharing of opinions and ideas. Please email topic ideas for the Friday Symposium. Always feel free to comment on any of the posts you want. All comments will be reviewed by me before they are posted.

Steven “Rizzo” Rizzolo