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Maintaining good health while leading an active lifestyle is a major priority for many people all around the world. However, a healthy lifestyle can demand huge sacrifices; too much running, biking or other sports-related activities may lead to serious overuse injuries and problems with joints, back, muscular problems, etc.
The therapies discussed here will help provide relief for certain ailments that many athletes suffer from by using medications typically used for other purposes. Before starting any medical therapy under the guidance of your physician, knowing the side effects and risks involved is crucial so you can make informed decisions about what treatments to use. That being said, here is the list of medical therapies that should be considered as an addition to your exercise program, to prevent such injuries and help you lead a healthy life.
NAD therapy
NAD, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a coenzyme found in all living cells. It can protect against muscle damage caused by excessive exercise and toxins, therefore promoting faster recovery. NAD therapy includes the use of specific pharmaceutically approved forms of NAD (like – NR), which should be taken orally, or topically as a cream, before or after doing any type of strenuous activities to reduce muscular stress and fatigue. If you live in Atlanta, IV NAD therapy is also an option. IV drip delivers a high concentration of NAD directly into your bloodstream, which allows faster recovery. Some of the best facilities that offer IV NAD therapy in Atlanta allow you to combine different wellness treatments into a special IV cocktail. This type of therapy is FDA-approved and considered generally safe for both healthy and ill individuals, so consider this option if overuse injuries have been a problem for you.
Acupuncture
In alternative medicine, acupuncture is used as a form of therapy to address various problems related to urinary incontinence, bowel dysfunctions, injuries, and tendonitis. Once a thin needle is inserted into your skin, it prompts certain sensory nerves to send signals to your brain that block the pain message and reduce inflammation. Acupuncture also helps boost your immunity and supports faster muscle recovery. If you are looking for additional therapy to help you reduce stress and recover faster from a strenuous workout, acupuncture might be a good option.
Biofeedback
The term “biofeedback” refers to a process where people can monitor their body’s function by using special instruments that send signals about bodily processes back to the patient. For example, biofeedback can measure changes in heart rate or breathing patterns. In some cases, biofeedback is used as a form of pain management treatment by monitoring patients’ reactions to touching certain objects or seeing pictures with emotional content. Similarly, it also helps diagnose conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, biofeedback may also be used as a tool for athletes who want to improve their body awareness, which allows them to monitor the muscles used when performing an exercise. By making these changes in your body, you may be able to avoid injuries in the future.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is another form of treatment that can be used as part of IV therapy to relieve joint problems related to arthritis, back pain, etc. It involves injecting special solutions made from dextrose (sugar) and other ingredients directly into the damaged or weakened ligaments, tendons, and other connective tissues. Since prolotherapy restores elasticity to these areas by increasing their collagen content, it can help prevent injuries caused by overuse. Just like IV NAD therapy, prolotherapy is considered reasonably safe and well-tolerated. However, make sure to speak with your doctor before trying any of these therapies to determine if they are completely safe for you.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is an IV treatment that involves drawing your blood before putting it through a centrifuge machine to separate platelets from red blood cells. These are then mixed with plasma for use in IV injections at any affected area of tendonitis or ligament damage. PRP injections have also been shown to speed up the healing process after surgery because they deliver high concentrations of growth factors to tissue repair sites. Once used mainly as a hair loss treatment, PRP therapy has been growing in popularity among athletes because it can help them recover faster from injuries.
Chiropractic & Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
Chiropractic and osteopathic medicine are often “practiced” by physicians who combine physical manipulation with other techniques like massage, acupuncture, or craniosacral therapy. This type of health care is helpful for people dealing with joint problems such as back pain or tennis elbow. It can also be used before athletic activities to prevent injuries related to overuse and maintain healthy joints and ligaments. Through X-rays and other technology, doctors can prescribe a specific treatment regimen that includes prescribing therapeutic exercises to their patients following physical manipulation sessions.
If you are an active individual who wants to get the most out of your workouts, you should speak with a doctor or physical therapist about which forms of medical therapy are right for you. These treatments can help keep your body in good shape so you don’t have to worry about missing practice due to injuries sustained while working out.