Acupuncture is an ancient treatment that began in China and has been performed on people therapeutically for over 3000 years. It was extensively researched in a medical context more recently and has many benefits for those in pain. It is often used to lower pain levels, and can also be used to help with injury healing, improve circulation, help with stress, and lead to better sleep. In other situations, many athletes or active people turn to acupuncture to optimize recovery and performance, and enhance the activation of muscles during training and competition.