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By Burton Wong
Just a few years ago, I could wake up five hours after a night of cocktail drinking at my favourite bar and go for a long ride in the morning. If I felt even a bit sluggish, I’d throw a couple more snacks in my pocket and I was good to go. Now I wouldn't touch a drink up to two days leading up to a ride that’s farther than 70km. The dull ache that lingers around days after and the extended recovery time reminds me that I’m getting old. Age. What a jerk.
I don’t ride in big cycling events often and I’m lazy by nature, so I won’t cross train or use any therapy to supplement my cycling lifestyle. No yoga. No bootcamp. No vitamin pills. No vibrating belt machines to trim my Lycra-wrapped butt. I just ride. But this circumstance led me to something pretty neat and I want to share my experience.
Because of a non-cycling related injury, I discovered acupuncture. It’s a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves needles and an open mind. My physician, Dr. Karen Lam, knew that I signed up for a few events this year, including the Ride To Conquer Cancer, involving day long rides exceeding 100km. She suggested that acupuncture could help me with the training and recovery, to which I was intrigued. And you know what? I liked being stabbed by needles. And to my Ladyfriend, don’t get any silly ideas.
Photo: NetDoktor.de
Some of us might have heard of acupuncture but even fewer have ever tried it. And with that, I want to introduce you to something outside of the conventional realm of physical training. Instead of coming up with my own explanation, I will leave this to the professional who has graciously answered a few questions:
Me: How would your particular therapy complement a cyclist’s lifestyle or training?
Dr. Lam: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a great deal of supportive and treatment modalities for the knees, neck, shoulders, wrists and upper back, which can also help prevent injuries during training and treatment for issues arising from the cyclists lifestyle. TCM theory provides insights into the cause and nature of most musculo-skeletal problems. The TCM take on health, including diet, lifestyle, and acupuncture often provide effective treatment on their own, as well as being useful additions to other treatments such as massage, physiotherapy and Western medicine.
Me: What would you say to people who are apprehensive about alternative therapies, particularly acupuncture?
Dr. Lam: Acupuncture is a form of treatment that has a positive effect on a person’s Qi (pronounced “chee”). By accessing the Qi through acupuncture points on the skin, it can balance the circulation, clear blockages that impede, promote healthy tissue, calm or stimulate and relieve pain. Scientific findings reveal that points are areas of reduced electrical resistance. The degree of this reduced resistance (electrical permeability) is affected directly by acupuncture.
You’re probably wondering about the needles, and I can tell you that they don’t really hurt. If you can handle a mosquito bite or an insensitive remark about how you look in Lycra during the off season, you can handle acupuncture. I have, without fail, fallen asleep (and probably snored and drooled) at every session because I was THAT relaxed. I have always left feeling limber (particularly in the knees) and alert. If you’re looking to try something new to complement your cycling routine, you might want to consider paying a visit to Dr. Karen Lam at Integrative Healing Arts in Vancouver. Bonus: She is offering HUB members a discount! And the best part for me is that I didn't have to bend myself into a downward dog or wake up at 6AM for military style aerobics. I sweat enough on a bike as it is.
