Happy New Year! As we enter the new year, we know many of you may have some exciting new year’s resolutions you are ready to jump into. Enhancing your exercise routine is a common new year’s promise but can also be a common cause of injury and pain on your body. Fortunately, we are here to help you. For those of you who are thinking of running this new year, read on to learn how chiropractic care can transform you into a better, stronger, runner.
IMPORTANCE OF GOOD POSTURE
Your form is crucial to helping you run fast and efficiently. When you run in proper form, your body should be relaxed as you move and lessen the risk of injury and pain.
If your arms are tense while you run or you find yourself slouching during your exercise, your shoulders, neck, and lower back may become fatigued, achy, strained, and tender.
Aside from preventing muscle aches and soreness while running, your posture also affects your propulsion off the ground and the amount of impact your bones absorb when you land. In some cases, poor posture may cause you to round your shoulders and tighten the chest, preventing you from taking full, easy breaths while running.
Various factors can affect your posture and cause misalignment. These factors can include running in the same direction on the same course, not replacing shoes as often as you should, or frequently running on uneven surfaces. Even the way you relax at home may impact your posture, for instance, if you sit in the same position every day, your muscles may become tight which can lead to strain and pain during exercise.
HOW CAN CHIROPRACTIC CARE HELP YOU?
Check Your Posture
When your body is misaligned, your running stride and form can become uneven as well. It can also increase your risk of pain and injury. Misalignments or joint dysfunction will limit or reduce smoothness of biomechanics lead to excess strain and tension in various areas of the body. When you visit a chiropractic doctor, your body is examined for biomechanical dysfunctions (subluxations) that are causing excess strain, tension, and neurophysiologic interference that adversely affects your form and ability to run as efficiently as possible.
To address these dysfunctions or subluxations we use adjustments (manual or instrument-assisted manipulation), massage, or therapeutic exercises to realign your body and improve your form. If we don’t check for misalignments examine your biomechanical function and correct them at the source, certain areas of the body may experience continuous wear and tear and muscle strain.
Reduce Risk of Injury
When your body is out of alignment, your core may not be engaged properly causing other muscles to compensate or work overtime. This compensation often leads to pain and injury. Common compensation-type injuries seen in runners from misalignment, improper form, or overuse can include ankle sprains, hip pain, knee pain, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis.
With regular visitors to my office, I can conduct functional examinations and posture evaluations to check for any misalignments in the musculoskeletal system that may be causing pain or leading to future injury.
Assist in Recovery
If you are currently in pain, I may be able to help you as well. Pain in your feet, legs, lower back, shoulder, and neck may be caused by strained muscles, inflamed joints, or pinched nerves. Massage, stretching, rest, and the correction of any joint dysfunctions can help you recover faster, relieve pain, and get back on track. I can also recommend exercises to help strengthen muscles and joints to help you regain full mobility and function.
If you are a runner experiencing pain, wanting to improve your run, or starting a new year’s resolution be sure to visit my office so I may help guide you into a healthy and happy new year pain-free! For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Westside Chiropractic LLC today.