Opinion: Acupuncture for Figure Skaters - An Untapped Resource

by Alys Guttenplan

Growing up as a skater, I watched the famed “Battle of Brians” and the “Carmens,” glued to the 1988 Winter Olympics. Though I’m not a morning person, getting up early to go to the rink never bothered me. In fact, I looked forward to it. One afternoon, in the spring of 1995, as I drove home from practicing my senior free and senior moves, I was in a car accident. From that point on, my back began to bother me. I was diagnosed with a condition called spondylolisthesis, at the L5-S1 vertebrae of my spine. This condition causes the forward slippage of vertebrae. Many people with this condition become athletes such as figure skaters or gymnasts, as they are hyper mobile. Unfortunately, the hyper mobility causes a lack of spinal stability which over time can cause pain.

It is unclear why some people with spondylolisthesis experience pain and others live their whole lives without a problem. I’ve hypothesized that my years of skating, combined with the impact of the accident, and a minor scoliosis in my right thorasic spine, all combined to cause me pain. For about four years, I tried various modalities to help my back, such as yoga, massage, and physical therapy three times per week, and nothing really seemed to make the aching pain subside. As for my skating, I could still skate, but my body felt different. Movements that had been easy suddenly felt labored, and my confidence also took a bruising, as a result of not feeling a sense of “sureness” in my body. My struggles to find a solution to my pain lead me to ultimately become fascinated with the mind-body connection and the treatment of chronic pain, particularly in figure skaters.

In April of 1999 I had a spinal fusion operation, fusing my L5-S1 vertebrae with a bone graft from my right hip, and 4 titanium screws inserted to insure the fusion would heal properly. About one year later I became certified as a yoga instructor and began a Masters in Social Work at NYU. I knew that I wanted to do mind-body work; I just wasn’t sure how it would take shape. In 2007, I was working as a social worker and trying to find a position where I could utilize my skills as yoga instructor, and further my knowledge about chronic pain treatment. I began getting regular acupuncture for some muscular issues around the scar area on my back and was impressed with the results. The following fall I enrolled in a three year Masters program at Tri-State College of Acupuncture, and eventually became a licensed acupuncturist.

In Chinese medicine, there are environmental factors which cause illness; they are referred to “external pernicious influences.” The most common of these factors are wind, cold, and damp. These three factors are, unfortunately, a daily exposure for skaters. We come to our practice sessions layered in warm clothes but gradually as we warm up the layers come off and we may just have on a thin tank top. Even though our bodies are feeling warm, from program run throughs, and repeated jump attempts, our bodies are actually letting in a significant amount of cold. When skaters sweat, our pores become open, allowing wind to come in as we stroke around the rink. In this state we are also allowing cold air to blow in to the parts of our bodies which are not adequately covered. Now imagine learning a new jump, all the times we fall, and our legs become damp, especially in the summer months, when the ice is softer. For coaches too, exposure to the cold and damp of the rink air is a daily and constant exposure.

Chinese medicine views pain that travels through the body as “wind” related pain. A fixed pain is often caused from “dampness” and pain that only improves with heat is seen as a symptom of “cold pain”. The three pernicious influences I’ve mentioned can occur separately or together. How the pain manifests is also related to the constitution of the individual being treated.

A study completed in 2005 entitled “Longer term clinical and economic benefits of offering acupuncture care to patients with chronic low back pain” concluded that:

“Traditional acupuncture care delivered in a primary care setting was safe and acceptable to patients with non-specific low back pain. Acupuncture care and usual care were both associated with clinically significant improvement at 12- and 24-month follow-up. Acupuncture care was significantly more effective in reducing bodily pain than usual care at 24-month follow-up."

It is important to note that study participants were offered up to 10 acupuncture treatments per patient. The acupuncturist was able to decide on the content of the treatment, and the number of treatments based on individual patient need. An acupuncturist has the unique advantage of treating based on an individual’s constitution internally, as well as the external factors they are exposed to. This, combined with knowledge of an athlete’s sport, (in my case figure skating) provides a highly tailored plan for treating injuries. Low back pain is particularly common in figure skating in recent years, due to the increased level of difficulty in required elements such as spiral sequences, spins, and ever increasing jump requirements. Furthermore, acupuncturists utilize a Chinese herb called moxa, which is used to warm the patient, both internally and externally. Acupuncturists are the only healthcare providers able to use moxa as part of their treatments. Moxa is particularly advantageous to figure skaters and their coaches, given the earlier information discussed in the article, about expose to cold on a long term basis. Moxa can be used to warm acupuncture needles, which then send warmth directly into the patients’ body, or moxa can be used indirectly, over the surface on the skin. It is also effective in treating dampness, as it helps clear dampness from the body. Dampness often manifests as a feeling of tiredness or heaviness, both of which can affect a skater’s performance. Dampness can also affect an athlete’s mindset, by causing a lack of mental focus. Thus, acupuncture with moxa is a valuable tool for helping skaters.

Another benefit of treating with acupuncture is that it is drug free; therefore, athletes do not have to worry about the legality of its use, particularly during the competitive season. It is also low-cost when compared with other possible methods of intervention for pain.

Prior to the Nagano Olympics, Canadian speed skater Kevin Overland was receiving physical therapy for a hip injury. His physical therapist felt the injury would not heal in time for the Olympics, which were just about one month away. Overland decided to try acupuncture treatment. He went on not only to compete in the Olympics, but to win a bronze medal in the 500-meter sprint! The Beijing Olympics were the first Olympics to have an acupuncturist on staff at the athlete’s village during the games. It was also available during the 2010 Vancouver Games. Hopefully acupuncture will become a fixture in the training and treatment regimen of athletes. Acupuncture can help skaters with physical ailments, as well as decreasing anxiety, and improving concentration. Ultimately it is valuable tool for all skaters.