Running-related injuries are common for avid runners. Without proper care and technique, running can result in a variety of problems including Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, hip bursitis, iliotibial (IT) band syndrome, stress fractures, ankle sprains, and lower extremity muscle strains.

How Chiropractic Helps Prevent Running-Related Injuries

Chiropractic care is a therapeutic way for runners to improve performance and is recommended to prevent injuries as it enhances spine and pelvic alignment. One of the techniques sports chiropractors do is called Active Release Technique, which is used to prevent and/or treat running-related injuries.

Mr. Stephen Massey, the lead chiropractor at Back Doctor Chiropractic Clinic, believes that the main cause of running-related injuries is the misalignment of the spine. That is why his first step in treating such injuries is to search for the misalignment and correct it.

Misalignment of the spine and pelvis are mainly caused by poor running techniques, running on uneven terrains, and running in the same course every day. The shoes you wear are important as well. You have to wear shoes that are designed for running, and it is recommended that the shoes are replaced every few hundred miles.

Going for a run right after sitting all day at work can also result in improper alignment of the spine and pelvis. When you sit in one particular position all day, the muscles tend to tighten on one side and lengthen on the other, and your pelvis tends to shift when you go for a run.

The best way to prevent running-related injuries is to have a proper warm-up and stretches.

Visit Back Doctor Chiropractic Clinic in Chester or North Wales for more information on how chiropractic care can be beneficial for runners.

The proper way to warm up and stretch before running will be discussed in the next article, along with some advice on how to prevent misalignment of the pelvis and spine.