Sports acupuncture is acupuncture through an orthopedic lens — posture, joint alignment, and muscle testing drive where the needles go. It gets athletes out of pain, keeps them out of pain, and improves performance without drugs. Here’s how it works, what the research shows, and how it compares to PT, chiro, dry needling, and cortisone.
By Dr. Lijana Shestopal, DTCM, L.Ac Licensed Acupuncturist | Sports Acupuncturist, Northbrook, IL Last updated: April 2026 Quick Answer: A small muscle on the side of your hip called the gluteus medius may be the single source behind your back pain, hip pain, knee pain, and IT band tightness. When it stops firing, your lower back, hip […]
Pain in your glute or shooting down your leg? Most people — and many clinicians — jump straight to “disc problem.” That’s sometimes right. But one of the most underdiagnosed causes of sciatic pain has nothing to do with your spine. It starts in your glutes. The assumption everyone makes about sciatica When leg pain […]
No injury. No clean diagnosis. Just a body quietly breaking down — and sending signals you have been calling ‘tension’ for years. QUICK ANSWER Chronic neck pain, back pain, and tight shoulders without injury are almost always the result of postural muscle dysfunction. Postural muscles — designed to hold you upright — become chronically overloaded […]
The Complete Acupuncture Guide: Your Most Asked Questions Answered Everything you need to know about acupuncture – from how it works to what it costs How Does Acupuncture Work? Acupuncture works by activating your body’s natural healing system. When very thin needles are placed in specific spots on your body, they trigger a chain reaction: […]
Why Back Pain Keeps Coming Back in Active People — and What’s Usually Missed If you’re active, train regularly, or push your body hard, recurring back pain can feel confusing — especially when you’ve already tried everything you’re supposed to try. You stretch. You strengthen. You rest. You’ve likely worked with chiropractors, physical therapists, or massage […]
