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.'

Peter De Vilder (1958) has been an acupuncturist for more than 35 years and has built up a long-standing practice in Bruges (Belgium). As an avid athlete (marathon, triathlon), he has also treated many sportspeople in his practice. Although the emphasis is usually on treating sports injuries using the balance method, ear acupuncture, and Master Tung, he has also focused on guiding athletes before, during, and after their competitions. He worked together with his son (a long-distance athlete) in a practice for guiding sportspeople (peaklevel) 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 likes to share some of his knowledge with those who are not yet familiar with acupuncture and who would like to know more about acupuncture in sports and movement.

What makes acupuncture so effective in treating (sports) injuries and pain complaints?
'Acupuncture is known worldwide for treating pain complaints. Scientific research has shown that acupuncture releases substances in the brain that work as pain suppressants. But there is more, from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we can establish a link between the different tissues and the organs or meridians. For example, muscles belong to the Spleen energy, tendons to the Liver energy, bones to the Kidney energy, blood vessels to the Heart energy, and skin to the Lung energy. In the case of sports injuries, we can therefore make a clear difference in treatment strategy to achieve a personalized approach for the athlete.
A combination of symptomatic treatment (pain complaint itself) and addressing the underlying cause makes acupuncture a very effective way of treatment.'

Which common injuries do you treat most in your practice?
'The most common complaints among athletes are of course muscle and tendon injuries because these are the 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 located? Which meridian is involved? How is the energy level? We determine the latter by feeling the pulse. The pulse in the wrist contains 12 zones that correspond 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 in tailoring 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 within 14 days. Giving advice on training is important, in consultation with the trainer or coach. Initially, the athlete should 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 regenerated to promote faster 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 move healthily or engage in sports, it is important to do so in a calm manner. We call this yin training. It is not the intention that you do better every kilometer you run than the previous kilometer. 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, but 75% of the training should be done calmly.

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 here.

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