If you’ve been running for years, you have probably investigated every available treatment and product that promises to fix running injuries, such as runner’s knee.
While some of these options may provide relief, most of them are akin to snake oil. Many of the creams, balms, and complex machines that are touted as the ultimate cure for running injuries will seldom actually help in any way further than through the placebo effect.
That being said, there is one lesser-known treatment for running injuries that runners should strongly consider: chiropractic care.
How to Overcome a Long-Term Running Injury
If you’re a runner, you’re probably intimately familiar with pain and injuries. For instance, you may be currently nursing a number of running-related aches and pains. In some cases, you may have had to modify or reduce your mileage in order to heal from these issues.
While every injury requires a unique treatment approach, there are some general rules which runners should follow if they hope to put their injuries behind them. Below, we’ve provided some of the best recommendations for injured runners so that they can get back to work as soon as possible.
Rest
This is probably the last thing you want to hear, but if you hope to heal from your running injury, you’re probably going to need to stop running for a while. At the bare minimum, you’re going to need to decrease your running mileage significantly while you’re recovering.
Resting allows your body to assess the damage done to your tissues. Further, resting enables your various body systems to direct healing factors toward the injured tissue so that it can repair and allow you to continue to participate in the sport you love.
When you don’t allow your body time to rest and heal, the inflammatory issues tend to compound. This means that even minor injuries can become major problems. Eventually, with insufficient recovery, you may even suffer a catastrophic injury, such as a major fracture. This can leave you bed-bound for weeks, if not months. In that time, you’ll lose tons of muscle and bone strength.
The bottom line is that you need to take rest days and you need to listen to your body when it’s telling you it needs a break.
Strength, Stability, and Flexibility
Some runners view the act of running as the only form of exercise they really need. However, running is just one component of a comprehensive exercise program.
You should also strive to perform total body resistance and flexibility exercises every week. By doing so, you’ll improve your strength, stability, and range of motion. This is one of the best ways to avoid and overcome injuries related to running.
Gait Training
If you’re a seasoned runner, this may sound silly, but you are probably not running very efficiently.
Running gait training is an extremely complex branch of exercise science. Therefore, it is a good idea to seek out a seasoned clinician who is proficient in analyzing and correcting running gait aberrations. These professionals may also recommend the use of shoe inserts and other corrective measures to improve your form.
Chiropractic Care for Runners
As was mentioned earlier in the article, chiropractic care can help runners immensely.
Chiropractors work to correct any spinal deviations through the use of treatments known as adjustments. Spinal adjustments push any deviated spinal segments back into place. This is key for runners, as the constant pounding on the pavement and other surfaces during long runs can often lead to serious spinal alignment issues. By addressing these issues through chiropractic care, many runners notice improved performance and decreased pain during their runs.
Your Plano chiropractor can help you overcome all of your running-related issues. The professionals at Keystone Chiropractic are ready to help you today. Book your first appointment right now!
