6 Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Runners

Nov 23, 2023 | Chiropractic Technique, Chiropractic Therapy, Exercises, Pain Relief

Do you ever feel like your entire body could use a little tune-up after those long runs?

Enter the sports chiropractor!

These chiropractic medicine experts are all about ensuring every part of you is running (pun intended) at its best. From head to toe, they’ve got the magic touch to keep you in tip-top shape.

Let’s dive into how chiropractors do it and why every runner should consider paying them a visit!

Key Takeaways

• Many runners are vulnerable to various injuries, from Runner’s knee to Iliotibial Band Syndrome.
• Chiropractors have a wide range of treatments available to mitigate running injuries and restore proper muscle function.
• Chiropractic treatment helps increase your range of motion and prevent future injuries.

6 Most Common Running Injuries

ACL Injuries

Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects the top and bottom parts of your leg. It plays an essential role in your knee movement and stability.

Now, how do people hurt their ACL? While you might think of it as a running injury, it’s more common in sports where there’s a lot of quick stopping and starting, jumping, or changing directions, like basketball or soccer.

But runners aren’t off the hook. A wrong step, a sudden twist, or even a collision can give your ACL a hard time.

Deep Muscle Adhesions

The term “deep muscle adhesions” refers to different tissues and muscle groups getting stuck together. It’s like when two pieces of wet paper cling to each other.

Say you trip and take a little tumble after a long, exhausting run. Or you push yourself to the limit during a race. Your muscles may suffer tiny injuries, like micro-tears. As they heal, scar tissue forms, creating these sticky spots or adhesions.

Muscle adhesions limit your muscle’s ability to stretch and move freely. It’s like having a knot in a rubber band; that part doesn’t extend as well.

Hamstring Pain

Your hamstrings are the big muscles at the back of your thigh. If you push them too hard or don’t warm up properly, they can get strained or even torn.

Hamstring injuries are a real bummer for runners. Imagine you’re out on a run and feel a sharp pain or a sudden pull at the back of your thigh. That’s your hamstring telling you, “Something’s not right!”

There are a few ways these injuries can occur:

• You don’t warm up properly before hitting the track.
• You try sprinting too fast without building up to it.
• Your hamstrings are tired and overworked.

Hip Snapping

“Hip snapping” refers to that weird sound or feeling from your hip when moving it.

The condition occurs when a muscle or tendon slides over a bony part of your hip, leading to a snapping, popping, or clicking sensation. It’s not always painful, but it may feel odd.

A few symptoms point to hip snapping:

• Tight or overworked muscles around the hip.
• You’ve been running a lot, and those muscles are fatigued.
• You’ve been repeating the same movement, causing extra wear and tear in the hip area.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)

This fancy name is for a common injury, especially among long-distance runners.

The iliotibial (IT) band is this long, stretchy band that runs down the outside of your thigh, from your hip to your knee. It’s not a muscle, but it bears the brunt when running, hiking, or taking a quick walk.

If you run a lot, the IT band may get tight or rub against your knee bone, causing pain and discomfort.

There are a few suspects behind this condition:

• Running on the same side of the road—which is often slanted—can be a culprit.
• If your shoes are worn out or don’t fit right, they could throw your stride off balance.
• Even how your body naturally moves (for example, if your feet turn inwards when you run) adds stress to the IT band.

Runner’s Knee

Runner’s knee—or patellofemoral pain syndrome—describes the pain you feel around or behind your kneecap.

When you run, there’s a lot of pressure between your kneecap and the rest of your leg. Sometimes, if things aren’t aligned right, or there’s too much stress, it can cause knee pain.

Think of it as a door hinge that’s a little off. If it doesn’t align perfectly, the door might squeak or be hard to open. In the same way, if your knee isn’t moving just right, it might “complain” with some pain.

There are a few reasons why someone might get runner’s knee:

• Your shoes aren’t supporting your feet properly.
• Your leg muscles aren’t equally strong, so one side works harder than the other.
• Even the way you run can make a difference. If you’re pounding the pavement super hard with every step, it can put more stress on your knees.

How Does Chiropractic Care Address Running Injuries?

Picture a chiropractor as a master mechanic for the human body, especially for the muscles, joints, and spine. They have a toolbox full of techniques to help your whole body feel its best and get you back on track in no time:

Active Release Technique (ART)

Active Release Technique (ART) is like a deep tissue massage’s cool cousin. The chiropractor uses their hands to find and treat tight muscles and other soft tissues. By pressing and moving in specific ways, they release tension and help the muscle move smoothly again. ART is great for runners because tight muscles mess with their running and can lead to injuries.

Chiropractic Adjustments

During a routine chiropractic adjustment, the chiropractor uses their hands to gently move and adjust the spine and other joints. These adjustments help ensure everything’s in place so you move properly when running.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Electrical muscle stimulation is an excellent way to help tight muscle tissue relax. Chiropractors place small pads on the skin that give off tiny electrical pulses. These pulses make the muscle tissue contract and relax quickly, reducing pain and tightness.

Functional Dry Needling

Functional dry needling involves inserting very thin needles into tight muscle tissue to help it relax. It’s like hitting the reset button on a muscle working overtime.

Graston Technique

When employing the Graston technique, chiropractors use special tools to scrape and rub the skin over sore spots. This approach helps break up scar tissue and increases blood flow to the injured area, allowing it to heal faster.

Chiropractic care offers many techniques to help runners heal, feel better, and stay injury-free. If you’re a runner dealing with aches and pains, it might just be time to give it a shot!

6 Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment for Runners

• Increased Range of Motion: You know that stiff feeling when you can’t quite stretch your leg all the way? Chiropractic care can help by working on those tight areas and making it easier for your legs to move. More motion equals more efficient running.
• Injury Healing: Injuries happen, and they’re a real bummer. But, with the proper care, you can get back on track sooner than you might think. Chiropractors have various techniques up their sleeves to help speed up the healing process.
• Injury Prevention: Even better than healing an injury? Not getting one in the first place! Chiropractic care keeps those annoying injuries away by ensuring your body is properly aligned and moving correctly.
• Muscle Relaxation: Chiropractors help those tired muscles chill out, making it easier to get back out there for your next run without feeling like a rusty robot.
• Decreased Healing Time: Nobody likes to be sidelined for long. With chiropractic care, your body can bounce back quicker from injuries or soreness. That means less time on the couch and more time hitting the pavement.
• Joint Mobility: Your joints are like the hinges on a door. They need to move smoothly for everything to work right. Chiropractors ensure your joints are moving freely so you’re not feeling any unnecessary aches or pains.

Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned marathoner, chiropractic care offers a handful of benefits that will make your runs feel smoother, keep injuries at bay, and even speed up your recovery time. Next time you’re lacing up those running shoes, think of all the ways a chiropractor can have your back!

Get Back on the Running Track With Dr. Doerr’s Help!

At Bergen Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation Center, our chiropractic team, under the leadership of Dr. Gregory Doerr, adheres to the highest medical standards to provide superior chiropractic help. Our mission is to provide unparalleled patient care in a comfortable, healing atmosphere.

Access our contact form or call us at (201) 945-4075 to learn more about our chiropractic care services! Our offices at 532 Anderson Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010, and 62 Summit Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601, are ready to welcome you as we proudly serve the areas of New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, PA, and Baltimore, MD. Also, access our blog, Facebook, and Instagram pages for more information on chiropractic treatment for running injuries!

References

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7. Wilson, Peter. “The Top 5 Reasons to Get Chiropractic Care as a Runner – Ultra Chiropractic Seattle.” Ultra Chiropractic, Ultra Chiropractic, 30 May 2023, www.ultrachiropractic.com/blog/5-reasons-chiropractic-care-for-runners. Accessed 20 Sept. 2023.