Eight Benefits Chiropractic Care Provides to Runners
Running is a popular and effective form of exercise that provides numerous health benefits. However, the repetitive motions involved in running can also put strain on the body, especially the back and joints. This is why many runners turn to chiropractic care to help prevent injuries, improve performance, and speed recovery. Here’s an overview of how chiropractic treatments can benefit runners.
Relieve Pain and Discomfort
Running involves constant impact which can lead to misalignments in the spine and cause pain in the back, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. Small misalignments in the vertebrae can cause irritation to the nerves branching off from the spinal cord.
Chiropractic adjustments help align the spine properly and take pressure off pinched nerves, reducing musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. Regular chiropractic care can relieve nagging aches and pains that runners often experience.
Prevent Injuries
Runners are prone to overuse injuries such as plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome, runner’s knee, shin splints, and stress fractures. Chiropractic care helps prevent injuries by increasing range of motion, improving biomechanics and posture, and reducing areas of tension or weakness.
Chiropractic adjustments combined with massage therapy, stretching, and exercises can keep the body aligned and balanced. This reduces injury risk and keeps runners performing at their best.
Enhance Joint Function
The constant pounding involved in running can lead to joint dysfunction and degenerative changes over time. Spinal manipulation and mobilization techniques help improve synovial joint function by restoring proper motion to restricted joints.
Chiropractic care also helps strengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support and stabilize the joints. This can improve running economy and prevent painful joint problems.
Speed Recovery
Running causes micro-trauma to the muscles and soft tissues. Chiropractic helps speed healing after intense training sessions or races by improving blood flow and nutrient delivery to the muscles.
Hands-on therapies like massage, trigger point therapy, and Graston technique break up adhesions and scar tissue to get the muscles functioning optimally again more quickly. This supports faster recovery between workouts and races.
Boost Immunity
Studies show a correlation between chiropractic care and enhanced immune system function. Spinal manipulation impacts the nervous system and can improve immune regulating processes in the body.
Chiropractic patients show higher levels of immunity biomarkers after treatment. A boosted immune system means less downtime and faster recovery from hard training periods.
Improve Range of Motion
Flexibility is crucial for runners to maintain proper form and biomechanics. Restricted range of motion from muscular tightness or joint dysfunction can hamper performance and increase injury risk.
Chiropractic loosening techniques help improve flexibility and restore normal ROM to the spine and limbs. Runners can benefit from greater mobility and responsiveness after chiropractic treatment.
Support Injury Rehabilitation
Chiropractic care is often included in multi-disciplinary injury rehabilitation programs. Spinal manipulation, soft tissue work, and corrective exercises can be used along with rest, medication, bracing, taping, and other treatments as part of a comprehensive rehab plan.
Chiropractic helps restore function, manage pain, speed healing, and prevent future injuries. This gets injured runners back in action as soon as safely possible.
Improve Posture and Alignment
Poor posture while running can lead to back pain, hip/knee problems, breathing issues, and injuries. Chiropractic adjustments bring the spine back into proper alignment, which allows for better posture.
Stretching and strength training further help correct postural imbalances. With improved posture, runners can breathe and move more efficiently for better performance.
When to See a Chiropractor
Runners should consider visiting a chiropractor if they experience any of the following:
- Chronic or worsening pain during/after running
- Restricted range of motion or stiffness
- Frequent muscle cramps or spasms
- Tingling/numbness in the extremities
- Repetitive injuries or joint dysfunction
- Abnormal gait, limping, or poor movement patterns
- Headaches or neck pain after running
Runners do not need to be injured to benefit from chiropractic care. Routine chiropractic maintenance can help prevent pain and injuries as part of a well-rounded training regimen.
It’s recommended to visit a chiropractor before ramping up mileage or intensity to identify any problem areas ahead of time. About once a month is sufficient for tune-up adjustments.
Conclusion
Chiropractic care offers many perks for runners looking to enhance performance, avoid injuries, and speed recovery. Spinal manipulation, soft tissue therapies, rehabilitation exercises, and postural correction all help keep the neuromusculoskeletal system functioning optimally.
Chiropractic works well alongside other treatments like massage, physical therapy, and custom orthotics. Anyone engaged in regular, intense running can benefit from this hands-on approach to improve alignment, mobility, biomechanics and overall well-being.