Running is a fantastic form of exercise. It burns tons of calories, improves strength, and offers many cardiovascular benefits. However, running can put tremendous stress on the body. This is especially true for the joints of the legs.
Luckily, runners can decrease their chances of suffering from injuries and improve their running performance simply by visiting their local chiropractor on a regular basis. In this article, we will review some common running injuries and demonstrate how chiropractic care can help these individuals recover from injuries and stay fit for the activity they love.
Common Running Injuries
Runners can suffer from a variety of ailments. That being said, in the following list, we have compiled some of the most common injuries experienced by these athletes.
Knee Pain
Our knees act as shock absorbers when we walk, jump, and run. These joints tend to wear down in runners, especially those who run with improper form.
Additionally, wearing shoes that aren’t appropriate for running can increase the risk of developing knee pain. Poor shoe selection can alter your gait significantly, leading to many different orthopedic issues.
Back Pain
When you go on a long run, you may feel a deep soreness in your back during and after the session. Often, this is due to your posture during the run, or muscle tightness/weakness throughout your hips and trunk.
By improving posture and flexibility, many runners can experience decreased back pain and better mile times.
Plantar Fasciitis
On the bottom of our feet, we find a stiff band of tissue known as the plantar fascia. Under normal situations, the plantar fascia helps us to spring forward when we are walking or running.
However, if this tissue becomes overly tight, we can experience pain in this area when we participate in athletic activities. This is especially true when we first wake up, after allowing the plantar fascia to tighten up while we sleep.
Generally, this condition will improve with conservative methods such as stretching and strengthening. But for some, plantar fasciitis can hang around for a very long time.
Stress Fractures
Many distance runners will develop a serious condition known as a stress fracture. With a proper diagnosis of the injury, rest, and good nutrition, many athletes recover completely from stress fractures.
Unfortunately, some running athletes find it hard to take breaks from running, and they never allow their injury to fully recover. This is particularly problematic when it comes to stress fractures. If left untreated, stress fractures can progress to full-fledged fractures where the bone breaks completely. This injury often requires surgery and months of rehabilitation after the fact.
Chiropractic Care for Runners
Chiropractic care offers the perfect solution for running injuries.
By performing spinal manipulations on these athletes, chiropractors can help to reestablish connections between the nervous system and the injured tissues. In doing so, chiropractors aid recovery by allowing for improved healing and decreased pain.
Furthermore, chiropractic offices are located all across the country, with these dedicated professionals ready to help athletes and anyone else with a painful condition. You never have to look far to find a good chiropractor in your area!
Best of all, chiropractic treatment sessions are quick and effective, with many patients reporting improved symptoms within just a few short minutes after treatment.
Are you a runner who is looking for a solution to your aches and pains? Stop by Keystone Chiropractic, your local Plano, TX chiropractor, today. Our expert team has extensive experience working with runners and athletes of all types. We would love to work with you so that you can return to running without pain or dysfunction. Book your appointment now!
