“I Drink, I Party, and I Get Acupuncture”

 ”Everyone knows I drink here and everyone knows I go out and party but I take good care of my body,” said Shockey, adding he doesn’t drink to excess. “I take vitamins every day. I get acupuncture, massages, tons of things to keep body healthy.”

Those were the recent words of Jeremy Shockey, the 26-year-old Pro Bowl tight end for the New York Giants. Jeremy is known to be a bit of a wild child off the field but has managed to be a star on the field.

We in the acupuncture field sure appreciate the plug, Jeremy! 

Jeremy Shockey is one of many professional athletes that receive acupuncture as part of their training regimen. Here is a quick list I found in 5 minutes on the web:

“Friday afternoon, that’s the massage and then on my way home. Sometimes if something’s ailing me I’ll do acupuncture and that’s a different stop on my way home. Just to loosen up, you know. There [are] a lot of muscles that are hard to stretch — acupuncture hits those and releases them and makes you feel a lot better.”
Patrick Kerney, Atlanta Falcons

Romanowski always took care of himself, though not in a conventional way. He ingested Chinese herbs while swallowing 250 supplements a day. At one point in his NFL career, he employed five chiropractors, four acupuncturists, three nutritionists, and two massage therapists. He underwent so much acupuncture that he eventually learned to handle the job himself.
NFL.com story on Bill Romanowski, former NFL tough guy

Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselback returned to practice and is expected to play in Week 12 against Buffalo. Hasselbeck had acupuncture treatments for a deep bruise just above his knee. He was hurt on the first play Nov. 14 at St. Louis and missed nine days of practice, as well as the Week 11 24-17 win over Miami.
2004 NFL.com story on Matt Hasselback, Seattle Seahawks quaterback

McMahon was notorious for head-first baseball-style slides when running the football, despite being coached to slide feet-first to protect his body. In the playoffs McMahon heeded this coaching advice and was speared by a defender’s helmet squarely in his buttocks, causing a painful deep bruise that McMahon sought acupuncture treatment for.
Wikipedia citation on Jim McMahon, former Chicago Bears quarterback

1999 was perhaps the most gratifying season of David Cone’s career. A pitcher with the New York Yankees, Cone led the club in earned run average and strikeouts and finished fourth on the team with 12 wins. He was also named to the American League’s All-Star team, and played a vital role in the Yankees winning their third World Series title in the past four years.
One reason for Cone’s success could be the acupuncture treatment he received last season. After undergoing surgery to repair an aneurysm in 1996 and shoulder surgery in 1997, he began looking for other ways to stay healthy and turned to acupuncture during spring training.
“Last spring, I did it almost every day,” Cone said. “This year I’ve felt great, but I just wanted to get into the routine again and keep it going because I’m sure I will need it somewhere down the line here.” Cone is not the only high-profile athlete to begin using acupuncture. St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire and Pittsburgh Penguins hockey star Jaromir Jagr have also utilized it for back pain, and a number of track and field athletes have employed acupuncture for chronic hamstring problems. Although he has pitched without pain so far, Cone plans on continuing treatment throughout the season. “It’s something I plan on maintaining throughout the year,” he said. “Once a week, twice a month, unless I get in trouble and something on my body starts to hurt.”
Acupuncture Today article on former New York Yankees pitcher, David Cone

Although the Padres aren’t big on magnets, they have turned to acupuncture. The Chiba Lotte Marines, Irabu’s former team in Japan, attended spring training this season with the Padres. The Marines’ trainers, observing the big-league operation and trainers, introduced the Padres to acupuncture. General manager Kevin Towers became a convert when acupuncture helped alleviate his back pain, and he had an acupuncturist travel with the team earlier this year. The team credits the therapy with helping second baseman Quilvio Veras get over hamstring problems. “I think it’s great,” Towers says. “I know it worked on me. It blocks the nerve endings and takes the pain away. It’s very relaxing. I’d go back.”
BioFlex Medical Magnets story of the San Diego Padres baseball club

He said recent acupuncture treatments have brought some relief and that he’ll receive cortisone shots if necessary.
San Diego Union Tribune Feb. 2006 article on first baseman Ryan Kelsko

Red Sox pitcher David Cone said Saturday he is receiving care from an acupuncturist in his bid to recover from shoulder pain. “I’ll try anything from Eastern to Western philosophies,” Cone said. “Acupuncture to cortisone.” Cone traveled from Fort Myers, Fla., to Tampa to see an acupuncturist who treated him following his shoulder surgery in 1998, with positive results. “I’m still a little reluctant to talk about anything I do to try and heal myself,” Cone said. “Not everyone accepts acupuncture and different types of treatments and remedies.”
2001 article on David Cone again, then with the Red Sox