Another record turnout at the Seattle Marathon meant another successful event for both the Bastyr University Sports Medicine Club and the Department of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine(AOM). The event, which drew an estimated 16,200 participants to four race events Nov. 28 and 29, provided a rich training environment for naturopathic medicine (ND) and AOM students, who supplied post-race care and support for race finishers.
Comprised of ND students, the Sports Medicine Club offered participants a variety of free services, including stretching, soft-tissue work, therapeutic taping and naturopathic manipulation. “This was our fourth year participating in the event and our biggest turn out thus far, both for students and the number of people who took advantage of our services,” said Chris Merlino, the club’s organizer. “The people we worked with said they were very satisfied with our efforts, and we’re excited to continue our participation at this event in 2010.”
Students in the acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) program also volunteered at the race, helping athletes recover from fatigue and injuries. “For many of the race participants, this was their first experience with acupuncture,” said Kyo Mitchell, DAOM, LAc, assistant professor of AOM, who noted the numerous compliments students received for their organizational skills and acupuncture treatments. “We do this event to help students get experience in using acupuncture for sports medicine.”
The event also gave Bastyr an opportunity to raise awareness of the health care services offered at the University’s state-of-the-art teaching clinic in Seattle, Bastyr Center for Natural Health (BCNH). Those who received treatments were not only educated about the benefits of incorporating acupuncture into their health care, but were offered coupons for discounts on services at BCNH.
Bastyr Sports Medicine Club 