Sports Medicine & Wellness

Elite athletes around the world turn to Traditional Chinese Medicine for recovery, performance, and injury prevention. Kristi works with athletes in the Santa Ynez Valley on all three. The combination of acupuncture and FSM addresses both the structural and bioelectrical dimensions of athletic injury, reaching tissue that standard physical therapy and conventional care do not always resolve.

Traditional Chinese Medicine views sports injuries as disruptions to the body’s natural state of flow and function. Treatment restores circulation, relieves stagnation, reduces inflammation, and supports the body’s return to full performance.

Conditions Treated

Athletic Performance and Injury Prevention

Acupuncture supports stamina, promotes efficient recovery between training sessions, and addresses the microtraumas that accumulate before they become injuries. Many elite athletes use regular acupuncture as part of their performance maintenance. Kristi provides this level of care to athletes in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Tendon Injuries

Kristi learned a specialized technique for working directly with tendons that is particularly effective for injuries at the osteotendinous junction, where most tendon damage occurs. This technique promotes healing at the precise site of injury and is used alongside herbal liniments and other topical formulas that accelerate recovery through each stage of healing.

Acute and Chronic Injuries

Both acute traumatic injuries and chronic overuse injuries are treated in this practice. Approaches include acupuncture, herbal liniments staged for different phases of recovery, FSM for deep tissue and nerve involvement, cupping for contusions and tight overworked muscles, and electro-stimulation applied through the needles where indicated.

Pre and Post-surgical Care

FSM is especially well-suited to myofascial pain and scar tissue. Using a specialized threading technique, Kristi treats scar tissue from surgery, injury, and other causes. Patients report significant improvements in scar appearance and flexibility, including surgical scars left nearly invisible following treatment.

PRE AND POST-SURGICAL RECOVERY

Acupuncture and FSM support recovery before and after orthopedic procedures. Pre-surgical acupuncture prepares the tissue and nervous system. Post-surgical treatment accelerates healing, reduces scar tissue formation, and minimizes the effects of anesthesia. Kristi has helped many patients recover from joint replacements and other orthopedic surgeries.

FSM and sports recovery: FSM works at the bioelectrical level of cells and connective tissue, reaching injury and inflammation that standard physical treatment does not always address. It is particularly effective for nerve involvement, deep structural damage, CRPS, and cases where recovery has plateaued. FSM is available to established patients and is frequently combined with acupuncture for the strongest results.

Wellness and Longevity

For patients focused on long-term health and performance, Traditional Chinese Medicine offers tools for metabolic support, stress regulation, sleep quality, and immune resilience. Nutrition and mind-body practices have been part of Kristi’s personal practice since the 1980s and inform the wellness guidance she offers her patients.

Book an Appointment

Whether you are recovering from an injury, preparing for a procedure, or focused on maintaining peak performance, the first step is a thorough intake and an honest conversation about what treatment can offer for your specific situation.

View All Services Book an Appointment