Do Chiropractors Treat Runners?

Yes chiropractic care can help runners, plain and simple.  Gone are the days when chiropractic care was just needed for aches, injuries or pain.  Many athletes are turning to chiropractic care on a regular basis to maintain optimal health and fitness.  Unfortunately, running injuries are not rare.  The most common are plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee and shin splints.  Visiting a Chiropractor regularly can help with poor posture and misalignments in the spine which may lead to injury.  A Chiropractor will also be able to teach techniques and exercises for injury prevention.  Most running injuries are preventable! Include regular chiropractic care into your running routine to help ensure a long and strong running career.

Below are some tips for preventing injuries and reasons to love running.

Tips to Prevent Running Injuries

• Improve and maintain your flexibility. Daily stretching is essential to improve and maintain flexibility.  Stretching should never be done in a hurry and should include all joints and extremities.
• Include strength training in your running program. Strength training improves a runner’s body strength and overall athleticism.  This in turn reduces muscle fatigue that could lead to poor performance and injuries.
• Stay hydrated and eat a well-balanced diet. Avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration by pre-hydrating two hours prior to a run with 16-20 ounces of fluids and another 8-10 ounces after warm up.  Continue to take in 6-8 ounces of fluids every 15-20 minutes of exercise.
• Warm up and cool down after every run. A 5-10 minutes warm up helps flush the lactic acid build up in the muscles and prevent delayed muscle soreness.
• Cross-train and include rest days in your training schedule. Cross training helps to maintain your aerobic fitness while avoiding excessive impact forces from too much running.  A day of rest allows your body to recover and adapt to a running workout.
• Wear the correct type of running shoes based on your foot type and running style. Not all running shoes are made alike.  The type of shoe you need depends upon your foot type and style of running.

Reasons Why Running Can Make You Happy

• Physical exercise of any type, including running is known to release endorphins in the brain. Endorphins act as a natural drug that can make a person more energetic, more awake and, yes, happier.
• Prevent Disease. For women, running can actually help to lower your risk of breast cancer.
• Running can help get you into better physical shape, which, makes you feel stronger and better able to take on the days challenges. Being in better shape, not only changes you physically, but also mentally and can lead to a happier mood.
• Running and racing allow you to set goals. People are typically happier when working towards a goal, whether they actually achieve it or not.  Reaching a goal, is wonderful, but it is the journey towards the goal that brings the most happiness.
• Running with friends or interacting with other runners can provide you with support of a social group. Humans are generally happier (especially women) when they feel a strong social connection.
• Running improves self-esteem. Increasing endorphins, getting in better shape, working towards a goal and increasing social connections all work together to increase your overall self-esteem.  Increased self-esteem leads you to be happier.