Sports Medicine & Injury Recovery

Restore Strength, Mobility, and Function — Naturally and Effectively

Whether you're an athlete, weekend warrior, or simply want to stay active without pain, you deserve care that looks beyond symptoms and identifies the root cause of your injury.

At Denver Sports & Holistic Medicine, we combine orthopedic acupuncture, functional movement assessment, regenerative therapies, and targeted manual techniques to help you heal faster and prevent re-injury — all while restoring optimal biomechanics, circulation, and tissue function.

We treat acute injuries, chronic pain, post-surgical recovery, and complex cases that haven’t responded to traditional care.

Conditions We Treat

We support a wide range of musculoskeletal and performance-related concerns:

Acute & Chronic Injuries

• Sprains, strains, muscle tears

• Tendonitis and tendinopathy

• Ligament injuries

• Rotator cuff injuries

• IT band syndrome

Joint Pain

• Knee pain

• Hip impingement

• Shoulder dysfunction

• Elbow and wrist pain

• Arthritis and degenerative changes

Back & Neck Pain

• Low back strain

• Sciatica & piriformis syndrome

• Disc injury

• Cervical stiffness

• Postural dysfunction

Sports-Specific Injuries

• Running injuries

• Cycling-related pain

• Weightlifting injuries

• Overuse injuries

• Repetitive strain

Post-Surgical Recovery

• Joint replacements

• Ligament reconstruction

• Tendon repair

• Fracture rehabilitation

For more complex systemic cases (mold, Lyme, chronic illness), see:
→ Chronic Illness & Complex Case Care

Our Integrative Approach to Injury Recovery

Healing is fastest when we support the entire system — not just the injured area. Your customized plan may include:

Orthopedic & Sports Acupuncture

A highly effective therapy for:

• Reducing pain and inflammation

• Accelerating tissue healing

• Improving circulation and lymphatic flow

• Releasing tight muscles and trigger points

• Restoring neuromuscular communication

Acupuncture regulates the nervous system, increases blood flow to injured tissue, and improves biomechanics from the inside out.
Learn more:
→ Acupuncture

Electro-Acupuncture for Tissue Repair

We use precise electrical stimulation to:

• Enhance microcirculation

• Stimulate fibroblast activity

• Improve tendon and ligament healing

• Reduce nerve pain

• Strengthen muscle activation

This is one of our most powerful tools for sports medicine and chronic injury recovery.

Myofascial Release & Manual Therapy

Targeted hands-on techniques address:

• Fascial adhesions

• Muscle knots and trigger points

• Restricted movement patterns

• Scar tissue

• Compensatory imbalances

When indicated, we incorporate:

• Tui Na

• Gua Sha

• Cupping

• Cross-friction techniques

Corrective Exercise & Functional Movement Analysis

We analyze movement patterns to identify the true drivers of pain, such as poor mobility, muscle imbalance, or dysfunctional motor patterns.

Your plan may include:

• Stability and mobility training

• Core integration

• Postural retraining

• Eccentric strengthening

• Injury-prevention strategies

This work ensures you don’t just feel better — you perform better.

Integrative Regenerative Therapies for Faster Recovery

To enhance healing, reduce pain, and restore optimal function, we integrate a wide range of regenerative and manual therapies. These modalities work synergistically with orthopedic acupuncture, corrective exercise, and movement retraining to accelerate recovery and prevent re-injury.

To accelerate recovery and reduce pain, we may integrate:

Cupping Therapy for Muscle Recovery & Circulation

Cupping increases microcirculation, improves lymphatic drainage, reduces muscle tension, and helps clear metabolic waste from overused or injured tissues.
It is especially effective for:

• Back, neck, and shoulder tightness

• Post-training recovery

• Myofascial restrictions

• Chronic muscle guarding

• Repetitive strain injuries

Gua Sha for Myofascial Release & Tissue Repair

Gua sha breaks down adhesions, improves fascial glide, and increases blood flow to injured areas.
It is clinically effective for:

• Tendonitis and tendinopathy

• Chronic knots and trigger points

• Scar tissue and restricted mobility

• Acute sprains and strains

Gua sha pairs extremely well with electro-acupuncture for enhanced tissue regeneration.

Moxibustion for Pain, Circulation & Soft Tissue Healing

Moxa uses gentle therapeutic heat from the herb Artemisia (mugwort) to:

• Boost circulation

• Reduce inflammation

• Relax tight muscles

• Improve joint mobility

• Support healing of chronic soft tissue injuries and scar tissue

It is particularly supportive for older injuries, scar tissue, cold-type pain, and slow-healing tissues.

Trigger Point Injections for Rapid Pain Relief

When clinically indicated, we may integrate trigger point injections, which help:

• Release deep muscle knots

• Reduce nerve irritation

• Improve range of motion

• Accelerate recovery in stubborn or chronic conditions

These injections can be combined with acupuncture and manual therapy for a more comprehensive release of dysfunctional tissue patterns.

Prolotherapy-Style Regenerative Injections

For patients needing deeper support, prolotherapy-style regenerative injections may be used to:

• Strengthen weakened ligaments

• Stimulate collagen production

• Support joint stability

• Address chronic tendon or ligament injuries

• Encourage long-term tissue repair

This approach is ideal for injuries that have plateaued, chronic instability, or repeated strain patterns.

Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)

Supports collagen repair, reduces inflammation, and enhances mitochondrial energy.
→ Red Light & Photobiomodulation

PEMF & Bioenergetic Therapies

Improve cellular voltage, oxygenation, and tissue recovery.
→ Bioenergetic & Nervous System Therapies

Ozone & Injection Therapies

(Applied when clinically indicated) — help modulate inflammation and support circulation.
→ Injection Therapy

Herbal & Nutraceutical Support

We use targeted formulas to reduce inflammation, support collagen synthesis, improve joint health, and speed tissue healing.

Why We Integrate These Therapies

Each therapy targets a different layer of tissue healing — circulation, fascia, inflammation, neuromuscular activation, or structural stability. When used together (based on your specific injury and recovery goals), they create a comprehensive healing environment that:

• Reduces pain more quickly

• Improves mobility and joint function

• Enhances circulation and tissue oxygenation

• Releases dysfunctional movement patterns

• Accelerates collagen repair

• Restores functional strength and stability

This multi-modality approach allows injuries to heal more completely and more efficiently, helping you return to activity with greater resilience and less risk of re-injury.

Athlete Support & Performance Optimization

Dr. Sturm’s background as a professional cyclist gives her unique insight into:

• Endurance performance

• Power production

• Recovery strategies

• Injury patterns

• Training load and metabolic stress

Athletes benefit from:

• Faster injury recovery

• Improved biomechanics

• Nervous system regulation

• Optimized recovery and tissue oxygenation

• Mitochondrial and metabolic support
  → Longevity & Mitochondrial Health

Post-Surgical Recovery

We support healing after:

• ACL or meniscus repair

• Rotator cuff surgery

• Tendon or ligament reconstruction

• Spinal procedures

• Orthopedic fractures

Treatment is tailored to surgeon protocols and your healing stage.

Why Our Approach Works

Most injuries don’t heal because care is incomplete.
We address all layers of recovery:

• Nervous system regulation

• Inflammation control

• Tissue perfusion & oxygenation

• Biomechanics & movement patterns

• Cellular energy production

• Lymphatic drainage

• Metabolic support

Healing becomes predictable when all systems are aligned.

Who This Program Is Ideal For

• Athletes (competitive or recreational)

• Active adults wanting to stay pain-free

• Individuals with chronic or recurring injuries

• Post-surgical patients

• People with pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments

• Anyone wanting to move better, feel better, and perform better

Get Back to Doing What You Love

Whether your goal is to compete, train consistently, or simply live without pain, your body can heal when given the right support.

Frequently Asked Questions — Sports Medicine & Injury Recovery

1. How is your sports medicine approach different from physical therapy or chiropractic?

Our approach integrates orthopedic acupuncture, functional movement analysis, myofascial release, corrective exercise, and regenerative therapies.
Instead of treating only the painful area, we identify the root biomechanical and neurological patterns that caused the injury. This leads to faster healing, fewer relapses, and better long-term performance.

2. Can acupuncture really help with sports injuries?

Yes. Orthopedic and electro-acupuncture stimulate tissue repair by:

• Increasing circulation and oxygenation

• Reducing inflammation and muscle spasm

• Enhancing neuromuscular activation

• Supporting tendon and ligament healing

• Calming nerve pain and improving mobility

It is one of the most effective tools for acute injuries, chronic pain, and post-surgical recovery.
Learn more → Acupuncture

3. What types of injuries do you treat most often?

We commonly treat:

• Muscle strains and sprains

• Tendonitis / tendinopathy

• Rotator cuff injuries

• Knee, hip, and ankle pain

• Low back pain & sciatica

• Neck pain & headaches

• Overuse injuries

• Post-surgical healing

• Sports-specific injuries (running, cycling, lifting, skiing, etc.)

For complex, multi-system cases, see → Chronic Illness & Complex Case Care

4. Do you work with athletes or just general patients?

Both. Dr. Sturm’s background as a professional cyclist gives her unique insight into:

• Athletic biomechanics

• Training load and recovery

• Injury patterns

• Performance physiology

We work with competitive athletes, recreational athletes, and active adults who want to feel strong, mobile, and pain-free.

5. What regenerative therapies do you use for injury recovery?

Depending on your condition, we may incorporate:

• Electro-acupuncture

• Red Light Therapy

• PEMF/bioenergetic therapy

• Cupping, Gua Sha, and Tui Na

• Corrective exercise

• Herbal + nutraceutical anti-inflammatory support

• Ozone or vitamin injection therapy (when indicated)

Learn more:
→ Red Light & Photobiomodulation
→ Bioenergetic & Nervous System Therapies
→ Injection Therapy

6. Do I need imaging before starting treatment?

Not always. Many soft-tissue injuries, mobility restrictions, and pain patterns can be accurately assessed through functional examination.
If imaging is needed (X-ray, MRI, ultrasound), we refer you to the appropriate provider.

7. How many treatments will I need?

This varies based on severity and how long the injury has been present.
General guidelines:

• Acute injuries: 3–6 sessions

• Chronic injuries: 6–12 sessions or more

• Post-surgical recovery: Ongoing support over several weeks or months

Our goal is to reduce pain quickly and restore functional movement as efficiently as possible.

8. Can sports medicine treatments be combined with acupuncture or red light therapy?

Yes — in fact, this is one of our most effective healing combinations.
Acupuncture improves circulation and neuromuscular activation, while Red Light Therapy accelerates collagen repair, reduces inflammation, and increases mitochondrial energy.

See → Red Light & Photobiomodulation

9. Do you offer telemedicine support for injury recovery?

Yes. While hands-on therapies require in-person visits, we provide telemedicine consultations for:

• Exercise programming

• Movement assessment review

• Pain science & recovery strategies

• Nutrition & anti-inflammatory support

• Return-to-training guidance

Telemedicine is especially helpful for athletes training out of state.

10. Is this approach safe for older adults or people with chronic injuries?

Yes. Treatments are tailored to your age, mobility level, health history, and recovery capacity.
Our integrative approach is gentle, restorative, and effective for patients with:

• Arthritis

• Joint degeneration

• Chronic pain

• Old injuries that never fully healed

11. Do you coordinate care with surgeons, physical therapists, or trainers?

Absolutely. We often collaborate with your existing care team—orthopedic surgeons, PTs, chiropractors, athletic trainers, or coaches—to ensure comprehensive support and continuity of care.

12. How does cupping help with sports injuries and muscle pain?

Cupping increases circulation, reduces muscle tension, and improves lymphatic drainage — all of which help injured tissues recover faster. It is especially beneficial for tight backs, neck pain, IT band tension, hamstring strains, and overuse injuries. Many athletes experience immediate relief and improved range of motion after cupping.

13. What is gua sha, and how does it support tendon or ligament healing?

Gua sha breaks down adhesions, improves fascial glide, and increases microcirculation to injured areas. It is highly effective for chronic tendonitis, scar tissue, persistent knots, and mobility restrictions. When combined with acupuncture or electro-acupuncture, gua sha significantly accelerates soft tissue repair.

14. When is moxibustion (moxa) used in injury recovery?

Moxa is ideal for injuries involving chronic tightness, cold sensations, poor circulation, or slow tissue healing. Its gentle heat enhances blood flow, relaxes muscles, reduces inflammation, and boosts tissue regeneration. It is especially helpful for long-standing injuries or arthritic joints.

15. What are trigger point injections, and who benefits from them?

Trigger point injections release deep muscle knots that cause pain, nerve irritation, and restricted movement. They are recommended when:

• Muscles are too tight to release manually

• Pain radiates along nerve pathways

• Acupuncture alone isn’t sufficient

Used with acupuncture and corrective therapies, these injections can dramatically shorten recovery time.

16. Do you offer regenerative or prolotherapy-style injections?

Yes. Regenerative injections may be recommended for chronic tendon or ligament injuries requiring additional stimulation to heal. These treatments strengthen compromised tissues, enhance joint stability, and help resolve recurring or treatment-resistant injuries.

17. How do you determine which therapies to include in my treatment plan?

Your plan is customized based on:

• Injury type and severity

• Tissue quality

• Inflammation level

• Movement patterns

• Nervous system sensitivity

• Your activity level and goals

Most patients benefit from a strategic blend of therapies — acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, laser or red light therapy, corrective exercise, or injections — depending on the phase of healing.

18. Can these therapies be combined with physical therapy or chiropractic care?

Absolutely. Many patients achieve superior results when we coordinate with their PT, chiropractor, surgeon, or athletic trainer. Our therapies decrease inflammation, improve circulation, activate neuromuscular pathways, and accelerate tissue repair — enhancing the progress you make in rehab or performance training.