Acupuncture in Portland for Sports Performance, Athletic Recovery, and Pain Management
Helping people and athletes with pain, stress and anxiety management, injury prevention and recovery, surgical recovery, prehab and rehab, and overall performance enhancement.
Evidence-Based Acupuncture at SportsLab
SportsLab combines clinically-proven acupuncture techniques with a movement-focused approach to recovery that works. Whether you’re dealing with an acute injury, managing chronic pain, recovering from training, or preparing for competition, acupuncture can support your healing process.
Recovery and Performance Support
Acupuncture can support better performance and recovery at every stage of training and rehabilitation. With extensive advanced training in sports medicine, orthopedics and rehabilitation acupuncture, we work in-depth with both athletes and teams.
From in-season and game day treatments to training camps, tournaments, and pre- and post-season rehabilitation, acupuncture can help you and your team perform at the highest capacity.
Competition and Training Recovery
Muscle Tightness
Training Fatigue
Persistent Pain
Overuse Injuries
Stress, Anxiety, and Trauma
Acupuncture can help regulate your body’s reaction to stress. People that have had accidents, concussions, or other extreme traumas often need help releasing physical holding patterns the body created to protect against further pain. Combined with therapy and trauma-related treatments, many people are able to move beyond these patterns with acupuncture.
Meet Our Acupuncturists
Lisa Mae Osborn, MS, LAc
I’m a lifelong athlete that’s always been fascinated by pain and movement patterns in bodies– I specialize in Orthopedic and Physical Medicine Acupuncture for pain, performance and injury of all kinds. I’m here to really see you and listen to you, and I believe that movement and ease are everyone’s right. Because I also live with chronic pain in my own body, I have learned to get really good at helping other people with pain.
With nearly three decades of hands-on experience, I practice a holistic form of person-centered myofascial release via soft-tissue constrictions (sometimes erroneously called dry needling) but more accurately called Acupuncture Physical Medicine, and have curated a compassionate, trauma-informed and effective way of treating multitudes of acute or chronic pain syndromes, injuries, chronic toxic stress, weekend oopsies and many other illnesses. From working with our own NBA Portland Trailblazers, Olympic Rugby players and teen athletes to gardeners and desk-jobbers, I have truly seen it all. I do not have great affinity with children under 12, but I have great referrals for you! I love working with other queer and trans people, with disabled and low-mobility folks, with people that identify as fat, with neurodivergent folks, weekend warriors, professional athletes, regular desk job folks, your elderly mom or your teenaged athlete.
Helping enhance athletic performance, training loads and recovery is a real passion, and I have a particular interest in tendon rehabilitation and overuse injuries. I have worked with all kinds of Olympic, Professional and elite athletes individually (dance, triathlon, basketball, volleyball, rugby, roller-derby, yoga, rock climbing, running, power/weightlifting, racquetball, swimming, cycling, gymnastics, soccer, tennis…) and in training camps and with teams. I want to help you avoid surgery and get off pain medication if that is your goal, and if you can’t avoid it, I can help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab, return to sport, and more.
I am endlessly curious about bodies and experiences, and I ask a lot of questions; my patient-centered style of Acupuncture is well suited for many chronic or complex disorders that often fall outside the mainstream medical care approaches—I love a challenge and there is a lot of misinformation about pain out there, so I work hard to educate folks about their bodies and also about sometimes scary medical diagnoses they receive without context or explanation. Acupuncture’s effect on stress management, PTSD and trauma is immeasurable, and most pain has some component of these neurobiological aspects.
About me, personally: I’m a white-reading, queer, able-bodied, menopausal cisgender woman living with chronic pain and autoimmune illness, and I use she/her pronouns. Like many folks in the U.S., I am made up of a kaleidoscope of influences, including German and Irish/Scottish Highlands (clans Currie/MacMhuirich,) and Southern Oklahoma/Northern Texas Cherokee ancestry. I was born in the traditional territory of the Eastern Band of Cherokee in North Carolina, went to NYU in 1990 for my undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Religious Studies and Linguistics and then on to Tri-State College of Acupuncture for my Masters of Science degree in Acupuncture Physical Medicine in NYC in 1997, and eventually moved to Portland in 2002.
How Acupuncture Helps
Relieve Pain and Reduce Inflammation
Acupuncture supports your body’s natural healing process while helping relieve pain. It can also reduce inflammation that can interfere with recovery.
Improve Circulation
Healthy circulation delivers oxygen and nutrients to recovering tissues. Acupuncture promotes blood flow to support healing and recovery.
Relax Muscles and Recover Faster
Muscle tension and soreness can make it harder to stay consistent with training. Acupuncture helps your body recover so you’re better prepared for your next workout or competition.
Our Treatment Approach
Any pain pattern, disorder, or disharmony that shows even the slightest sign of change can be more quickly resolved with acupuncture.
We practice a patient-centered style that is well-suited for many chronic or complex disorders that often fall outside the mainstream medical care approaches. Acupuncture’s effect on anxiety, stress management, PTSD, and trauma is immeasurable, and most pain has some component of these neurobiological aspects.
Why Choose SportsLab
Movement-focused care
Every treatment plan is designed to improve the way your body moves while supporting long-term recovery.
Integrated expertise
Our acupuncturists work alongside physical therapists, chiropractors, and massage therapists to coordinate your care.
Patient-centered treatment
Whether you’re recovering from an injury or preparing for your next competition, treatment is built around your goals.
What To Expect During Your First Acupuncture Visit
Evaluation and Personalized Treatment
We’ll evaluate your needs, decide on how to proceed together, and map out a plan with measurable goals to be sure you get the results you are seeking.
Integrated Care
Acupuncture is often combined with other allied health modalities for optimal collaborative care, and our providers work together to keep your treatment coordinated and your recovery moving forward. If additional movement or recovery strategies would be helpful, our team may recommend exploring physical therapy, chiropractic care, and massage therapy.
Progress Tracking
Some people will notice a change after one visit, while others improve more gradually. Together, we’ll discuss what to expect based on your condition and recommended treatment plan, and decide how to proceed.
Ready to Start Feeling Better?
Acupuncture can be an effective part of your recovery, whether you’re returning from an injury or looking for relief from ongoing pain. Schedule your appointment and take the next step toward moving more comfortably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is acupuncture painful?
Most patients experience only mild discomfort during treatment. The needles used in acupuncture are extremely thin, and many people describe the sensation as tingling, warmth, or a dull ache as tissues respond to stimulus.
What conditions can acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture can help manage sports injuries, muscle tension and spasms, overuse injuries, tendonopathy, chronic pain, headaches, and many other conditions that affect movement, daily function, and recovery.
Is acupuncture covered by insurance?
Very few insurance plans include acupuncture benefits, although coverage varies by provider. While our in-house acupuncturist is not empaneled with any insurance carriers, if you know your insurance will reimburse out-of-network acupuncture care, we are happy to provide a bill for submission.
Is sports acupuncture different from traditional acupuncture?
Yes! Sports acupuncture, orthopedic acupuncture and acupuncture physical medicine all focus on tendinomuscular and fascial movement dynamics, using techniques like trigger point release (sometimes called dry needling) and electro-acupuncture (“e-stim”). These techniques are used in addition to the energetic and constitutional support provided by traditional acupuncture to support recovery, improve movement, and address injuries related to physical activity.
How many acupuncture treatments will I need?
The number of treatments depends on your unique situation and how your body responds to care. After your initial evaluation, your acupuncture provider will recommend a treatment plan that’s appropriate for your recovery.
