Taking in the fresh air in the mornings while having your morning jog or run feels good. Running is a great way to keep in shape which provides you with a multitude of health benefits. It improves cardiovascular activity, brain function and joint mobility. For many individuals, running provides a social outlet for them as well.
As a runner, you may well know that you are prone to injuries more than the average person. Be it preparing for a triathlon or implementing the wrong posture in your exercises, such strenuous activities can put undue stress on your muscles and joints that if left untended for a while, can lead to serious injuries. Read on to find out some of the symptoms that should not go unnoticed by you – they are common, but also preventable if you take the right measures.
What are some of the tell-tale signs of my running injuries?
- Knee Pain (Runner’s Knee)
This is a common term used to describe any of the several conditions that cause pain around the kneecap, otherwise known as the patella. It is characterised by an aching pain around or beneath the kneecap, especially where it meets the lower part of the thighbone or femur. Besides feeling painful, it may occasionally escalate to swelling, popping or grinding in the knee. Inadequate stretching before exercise or the overuse of your knees are a few of the many factors that could have contributed to your knee pain.
- Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
To be more specific, it is the inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the foot’s bottom and connects the heel bone to the toes (plantar fascia). This occurs when you experience stabbing pain usually occurring with your first steps in the morning or after long standing or sitting periods, which is commonly found in runners and is caused by repetitive strain injury to the ligament of your soles resulting from excessive running.
- Ankle Sprain
Similar to plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains are also affected by the same type of inflammation – which is caused by accidentally twisting or turning your ankles in an awkward way that could potentially stretch or tear the ligaments that are holding your ankle bones and joints together.
How will I benefit from Chiropractic care?
It is vital to take common precautions in order to minimise running-related injuries in the first place. Looking out for and purchasing adequate trainers as well as respecting your body’s thresholds are a few of the excellent precautions to incorporate within your life, but on top of that is integrating chiropractic care in your athletic lifestyle. Regular runners are able to reap many positive results from visiting a chiropractor.
By loosening and relaxing your joints through specific chiropractic treatments, it allows for greater flexibility and movement which both aid in boosting a runner’s gait and time. Unrestricted joints and a better range of motion will definitely help you move more freely and stand a better chance at avoiding running injuries. Although injuries will still be part and parcel of your running lifestyle as it is inevitable at times, chiropractors can promote healing in your body as a whole which in turn decreases your downtimes when you are hurt. In taking the proper steps to minimise your chances of injury, you can still enjoy the good points that running brings to the table, and more. Reach out to our chiropractors today to inquire about the adequate preventive chiropractic treatments and adjustments that is most optimal for you and embark on your chiropractic journey.
