Peter de Vilder - acupuncture for (sports) injuries

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‘It is important to know that an acupuncturist not only treats pain, but can be consulted to manage the entire process of training, competition, and recovery effectively.’

Peter De Vilder (1958) is an acupuncturist with over 35 years of experience and has built up a longstanding practice in Bruges (Belgium). As an avid athlete (marathon, triathlon), he has also treated many sportspeople in his practice. Although the focus is usually on treating sports injuries using the balance method, ear acupuncture, and Master Tung, he has also specialized in guiding athletes before, during, and after their competitions. He worked together with his son (a long-distance athlete) in a practice for sportspeople's guidance (peak level), where he mainly guided endurance athletes (marathon, triathlon) to optimize their performance.

Peter has provided an interesting webinar for our members on sports guidance from Traditional Chinese Medicine. Peter also enjoys sharing some of his knowledge with those who are not yet familiar with acupuncture and who would like to learn more about acupuncture in sports and movement.

What makes acupuncture so effective in treating (sports) injuries and pain complaints?
'Acupuncture is globally known for treating pain complaints. Scientific research has shown that acupuncture releases substances in the brain that have a pain-relieving effect. But there's more; from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we can establish a connection between different tissues and organs or meridians. For example, muscles are associated with Spleen energy, tendons with Liver energy, bones with Kidney energy, blood vessels with Heart energy, and skin with Lung energy. In the case of sports injuries, we can clearly differentiate treatment strategies to develop a personalized approach for the athlete.
A combination of symptomatic treatment (the pain complaint itself) and addressing the underlying cause makes acupuncture a highly effective treatment method.'

Which common injuries do you treat most in your practice?
'The most common complaints among athletes are of course muscle and tendon injuries because they are most stressed by practicing sports. For example, Achilles tendon complaints, knee complaints, hip problems, and lower back complaints in endurance sports such as running or cycling. In racket sports, we see many tennis elbows, shoulder complaints, and neck complaints.'

But we must not forget the emotional impact of the injury. The athlete suddenly cannot train anymore and sees his competition already in jeopardy. That is why the treatment of an injury always goes hand in hand with balancing his emotional state.'

How does a treatment proceed?
‘When the athlete comes to us, it is important to get a good understanding of the complaint. Where is the pain? Which meridian is involved? How is the energy level? We determine the latter by feeling the pulse. The pulse contains 12 zones corresponding to the 12 organs and meridians. If the pulse is weak, we know there is a deficiency (exhaustion) of energy. If the pulse is strong, we know there is a blockage of energy. This is crucial to tailor our therapy.
For sports injuries, I usually work with a method that allows for immediate improvement. This improvement needs to be sustained by repeating the treatment several times over a short period. Ideally, 3 treatments should be given in 14 days. Providing advice on training is important, in consultation with the trainer or coach. Initially, the athlete must rest to allow the injury to recover. Equally important is for the acupuncturist to continue treatment when the athlete resumes training to observe how the injury responds to new stress.’

What role does acupuncture play in an active recovery process compared to other therapies?
'Acupuncture is not only very effective in treating sports injuries, but it also proves to be a good tool in recovery after intense training or competition. By stimulating certain points on the Spleen meridian, energy is restored, which accelerates recovery.
It is important to know that an acupuncturist not only treats pain but can also be consulted to manage the entire process of training, competition, and recovery.'

Do you have specific tips for people who want to stay active and healthy through sports?
‘If you want to stay healthy or engage in sports, it is important to do so in a gentle manner. We call this yin training. It is not the intention to improve every kilometer you run compared to the previous one. When the training speed is too high, you are heading towards injuries. Of course, you can occasionally challenge your body by incorporating some speed or interval training, but 75% of the training should be done at a gentle pace.

And perhaps the most important tip: enjoy your sports experience!!’

Peter De Vilder is a teacher at OTCG (Training Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine) in Antwerp.

You can read more information about acupuncture for pain at the Knowledge Centre here.

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