Sports Medicine & Injury Recovery
Restore Strength, Mobility, and Function — Naturally and Effectively
Whether you’re a competitive athlete, weekend warrior, or simply want to stay active without pain, effective recovery requires more than symptom management. True healing happens when the underlying biomechanical, neurological, and metabolic drivers of injury are addressed.
At Denver Sports & Holistic Medicine, Dr. Martina Sturm combines orthopedic acupuncture, functional movement assessment, regenerative therapies, and targeted manual techniques to accelerate healing, restore optimal biomechanics, and prevent re-injury.
We treat acute injuries, chronic pain, post-surgical recovery, and complex cases that have not responded to conventional care.
Conditions We Treat
We support a wide range of musculoskeletal and performance-related concerns:
Acute & Chronic Injuries
We support a wide range of musculoskeletal, neurological, and performance-related concerns.
• Sprains, strains, and muscle tears
• Tendonitis and tendinopathy
• Ligament injuries
• Rotator cuff injuries
• IT band syndrom
Joint Pain
• Knee pain
• Hip impingement
• Shoulder dysfunction
• Elbow and wrist pain
• Arthritis and degenerative joint changes
Back & Neck Pain
• Low back strain
• Sciatica and piriformis syndrome
• Disc injuries
• Cervical stiffness
• Postural dysfunction
Sports-Specific Injuries
• Running injuries
• Cycling-related pain
• Weightlifting injuries
• Overuse and repetitive strain injuries
Post-Surgical Recovery
• Joint replacements
• Ligament reconstruction
• Tendon repair
• Fracture rehabilitation
For complex systemic cases, see:
→ Chronic Illness & Complex Case Care
Our Integrative Approach to Injury Recovery
Healing is fastest when the entire system is supported—not just the injured tissue. Each treatment plan is customized to your injury type, healing phase, and performance goals.
Orthopedic & Sports Acupuncture
A highly effective therapy for:
• Reducing pain and inflammation
• Accelerating tissue repair
• Improving circulation and lymphatic flow
• Releasing muscle tension and trigger points
• Restoring neuromuscular communication
→ Acupuncture & Nervous System Regulation
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
• 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
Addresses faulty movement patterns contributing to injury through:
• Stability and mobility training
• Core integration
• Postural retraining
• Eccentric strengthening
• Injury-prevention strategiesThis work ensures you don’t just feel better — you perform better.
Regenerative Therapies for Faster Recovery
To accelerate healing and prevent re-injury, we integrate regenerative and bioenergetic therapies as clinically indicated.
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:
• Improves circulation and lymphatic drainage
• Reduces muscle tension
• Clears metabolic waste
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:
• Breaks down adhesions
• Improves fascial glide
• Increases blood flow to injured tissue
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:
• Enhances circulation
• Reduces inflammation
• Supports chronic and slow-healing injuries
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
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 ligaments
• Stimulate collagen production
• Improve joint stability
This approach is ideal for injuries that have plateaued, chronic instability, or repeated strain patterns.
Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)
To further support tissue healing and cellular recovery, we may incorporate Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation), which:
• Supports collagen repair
• Reduces inflammation
• Enhances mitochondrial energy
→ Red Light & Photobiomodulation
PEMF & Bioenergetic Therapies
To further support cellular signaling, circulation, and tissue recovery, we may incorporate PEMF and bioenergetic therapies, which:
• Improve cellular voltage
• Enhance oxygenation
• Accelerate tissue recovery
→ Bioenergetic & Nervous System Therapies
Ozone & Injection Therapies
To further support inflammation control and circulatory function, we may incorporate ozone and injection therapies, which:
• Modulate inflammatory signaling
• Support circulation and oxygen delivery
• Enhance tissue healing and recovery
→ Regenerative Injection Therapy
Herbal & Nutraceutical Support
We incorporate targeted herbal and nutraceutical support to to support tissue repair and recovery at a biochemical level, which:
• Reduce inflammation
• Support collagen synthesis
• Improve joint and connective tissue health
• Accelerate tissue healing and recovery
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:
Athlete Support & Performance Optimization
Dr. Sturm’s background as a professional cyclist provides unique insight into the physiological demands of sport, including:
• Endurance performance and aerobic efficiency
• Power production and force output
• Recovery strategies and tissue regeneration
• Common injury patterns across training cycles
• Training load management and metabolic stress
This perspective allows care to be tailored not only for injury recovery, but also for improved performance, resilience, and longevity in sport.
Athletes benefit from a systems-based approach that supports:
• Faster injury recovery
• Improved biomechanics and movement efficiency
• Nervous system regulation
• Optimized recovery and tissue oxygenation
• Mitochondrial and metabolic support
Post-Surgical Recovery
We support healing after a wide range of orthopedic procedures, including:
• ACL or meniscus repair
• Rotator cuff surgery
• Tendon or ligament reconstruction
• Spinal procedures
• Orthopedic fractures
Treatment is carefully tailored to your surgeon’s protocols, tissue-healing timeline, and individual recovery stage to support safe, effective rehabilitation.
Why Our Approach Works
Most injuries do not fully heal because care is incomplete or fragmented. True recovery requires addressing every system involved in tissue repair and functional movement.
We address all layers of recovery:
• Nervous system regulation
• Inflammation control
• Tissue perfusion and oxygenation
• Biomechanics and movement patterns
• Cellular energy production
• Lymphatic drainage
• Metabolic support
When these systems are aligned, healing becomes more efficient, resilient, and predictable.
Who This Program Is Ideal For
• Competitive and recreational athletes
• Active adults seeking to stay pain-free
• Individuals with chronic or recurring injuries
• Post-surgical patients
• People with pain that has not responded to other treatments
• Anyone who wants 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.
Start your personalized Sports Medicine & Injury Recovery program.
Frequently Asked Questions About 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.
3. What types of injuries do you treat most often?
We commonly treat:
• Muscle strains and sprains
• Tendonitis and tendinopathy
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Knee, hip, and ankle pain
• Low back pain and sciatica
• Neck pain and headaches
• Overuse injuries
• Post-surgical healing
• Sports-specific injuries (running, cycling, lifting, skiing)
4. Do you work with athletes or just general patients?
BothBoth. Dr. Sturm’s background as a professional cyclist, combined with her education and clinical experience, provides unique insight into: Athletic biomechanics
• Training load and recovery
• Injury patterns
• Performance physiology
As a result, care is effective for 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 and bioenergetic therapies
• Cupping, gua sha, and Tui Na
• Corrective exercise
• Herbal and nutraceutical anti-inflammatory support
• Ozone or vitamin injection therapy (when indicated)
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, we refer you to the appropriate provider.
7. How many treatments will I need?
This varies based on injury severity and duration. General guidelines include:
• 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. 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.
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, recovery strategies, nutrition support, and return-to-training guidance.
10. Is this approach safe for older adults or people with chronic injuries?
Yes. Treatments are tailored to age, mobility level, health history, and recovery capacity. Our integrative approach is gentle and effective for arthritis, joint degeneration, chronic pain, and old injuries that never fully healed.
11. Do you coordinate care with surgeons, physical therapists, or trainers?
Absolutely. We frequently collaborate with orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers, and coaches to ensure comprehensive care and continuity.
12. How does cupping help with sports injuries and muscle pain?
Cupping increases circulation, reduces muscle tension, and improves lymphatic drainage, allowing injured tissues to recover faster. It is especially helpful for back and neck tightness, IT band tension, hamstring strains, and overuse injuries.
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, especially when combined with acupuncture.
14. When is moxibustion (moxa) used in injury recovery?
Moxa is used for injuries involving chronic tightness, cold sensations, poor circulation, or slow tissue healing. Its gentle heat enhances blood flow, relaxes muscles, reduces inflammation, and supports tissue regeneration.
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, or acupuncture alone is insufficient.
16. Do you offer regenerative or prolotherapy-style injections?
Yes. These injections may be recommended for chronic tendon or ligament injuries that need additional stimulation to heal. They strengthen compromised tissues, enhance joint stability, and help resolve recurring injuries
17. How do you determine which therapies to include in my treatment plan?
Your plan is individualized based on injury type and severity, tissue quality, inflammation level, movement patterns, nervous system sensitivity, and your activity level and goals.
18. Can these therapies be combined with physical therapy or chiropractic care?
Yes. Coordinating care with your physical therapist, chiropractor, surgeon, or athletic trainer often leads to superior outcomes. Our therapies enhance circulation, reduce inflammation, activate neuromuscular pathways, and accelerate tissue repair—supporting faster progress in rehab and performance training.
19. How quickly can I return to sport or training after treatment?
Return-to-sport timelines depend on injury type, tissue involved, chronicity, and neuromuscular stability. Acute strains may allow modified training within days to weeks, while tendon, ligament, or post-surgical cases require a more gradual progression. Our goal is not just symptom relief, but restoring proper movement patterns to reduce re-injury risk.
20. Can this approach help prevent recurring injuries?
Yes. Recurrent injuries often occur when biomechanics, muscle imbalances, or nervous system patterns are not addressed. Our approach focuses on correcting movement dysfunction, improving tissue quality, and restoring neuromuscular coordination to reduce relapse and improve long-term durability.
21. Do I need an MRI or imaging before sports medicine treatment?
Not always. Many musculoskeletal injuries can be accurately assessed through functional movement analysis, palpation, and orthopedic testing. Imaging may be helpful in cases of suspected structural damage, severe trauma, or when progress stalls, and we coordinate referrals when appropriate.
22. Can sports medicine acupuncture help post-surgical recovery?
Yes. Acupuncture and integrative sports medicine therapies are commonly used after surgery to reduce pain and swelling, improve circulation, prevent compensatory movement patterns, and accelerate tissue healing—while supporting safer return to activity.
23. Is this approach appropriate for non-athletes with chronic pain or old injuries?
Absolutely. You do not need to be an athlete to benefit. Many patients seek care for old injuries, arthritis, joint degeneration, or pain that never fully resolved. The same principles used for athletes apply to restoring function and reducing pain in everyday life.
24. Can sports medicine treatments help improve performance, not just treat injuries?
Yes. By optimizing movement efficiency, muscle activation, recovery, and tissue resilience, treatment can improve performance, reduce fatigue, and enhance training capacity—even in the absence of active injury.
25. How do you address inflammation without relying on medications?
We focus on improving circulation, tissue oxygenation, lymphatic drainage, nervous system regulation, and cellular repair using acupuncture, manual therapies, regenerative techniques, and targeted nutritional support—rather than suppressing inflammation pharmacologically.
26. What role does the nervous system play in injury recovery?
The nervous system controls muscle tone, coordination, pain signaling, and healing capacity. Dysregulation can slow recovery or perpetuate pain. Acupuncture and integrative therapies help normalize nervous system signaling, improving both recovery speed and movement quality.