Certified Sports Medicine Acupuncture® (CSMA®) is a specialized, integrative approach that combines Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with modern sports medicine principles to effectively assess, diagnose, and treat musculoskeletal injuries and athletic performance issues. Unlike general TCM, which often focuses on systemic patterns and energetic imbalances, Sports Medicine Acupuncture emphasizes orthopedic evaluation, functional anatomy, manual muscle testing, and advanced needling techniques to address specific injuries and biomechanical dysfunctions. This style bridges Eastern and Western medicine, using palpation-based diagnostics and precise needle placement to affect muscle function, joint alignment, and pain pathways—while still incorporating the foundational principles of qi, meridians, and holistic balance.

​

The certification process in Sports Medicine Acupuncture is rigorous and clinically focused. Practitioners complete an extensive postgraduate program that includes over 250 hours of hands-on training in orthopedic acupuncture, anatomy and physiology, rehabilitation exercises, and assessment techniques. Certification requires successful completion of written and practical exams, along with documented case studies demonstrating clinical competency. The founder of Orthopedic Alternatives, Elizabeth Eberius, is a Certified Sports Medicine Acupuncturist (CSMA®) and encourages all of her staff acupuncturists to incorporate the fundamental principles of SMA into care—promoting a consistent, high level of care for both acute injuries and long-term physical health.