Running is great way to keep in shape and provides many health benefits. It can improve cardiovascular activity, brain function and joint mobility. For many people, running groups and clubs provide a social outlet as well.
In the 70s, a man named Jim Fixx popularized the most recent wave of the running movement, or “jogging” as it used to be called. Jim is credited with starting the fitness revolution and is generally seen as the grandfather of modern-day running.
Prior to Jim, anyone seen running down the street was usually suspected of stealing something! Prior to Jim, exercise was certainly not a priority for most people, with the exception of a maybe few bodybuilders.
Some indigenous cultures, such as the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s Copper Canyons, have been long distance running for centuries. In his book Born to Run, author Christopher McDougall describes how Tarahumara started long distance running out of necessity in order to hunt. The most interesting fact about them is that they did all of this barefoot.
Many anthropologists believe that humans are in fact born to run. Running may have been one of our first major adaptations to our environment as humans began hunting large game.
Today running can range anywhere between an occasional hobby to rabid obsession. There are probably hundreds of races every year in your town, from 5Ks to 50K Ultra Marathons.
However, especially with new runners, injuries can rapidly take the fun out of running. Shin splints, plantar fasciitis and knee/hip pain are the most common, but also preventable.
The repetitive stress and strain of running on hard surfaces, combined with poor running posture and defective footwear have been cited as possible causes of injury. There are many professional running stores, such as the Running Room, that can help you correct these deficiencies. Unfortunately, some chronic running injuries may actually be a result of poor spinal posture and hip alignment.
The hips, lower spine and pelvis need to be in correct alignment in order for the lower extremities, knees and feet to move smoothly and efficiently.
Just like a car with alignment problems, a person running on a misaligned posture will cause uneven wear and tear on the joints. This will cause muscles and ligaments on one side to tighten and the opposite side to compensate and become lax. This becomes a recipe for soft tissue injuries and chronic pain.
Chiropractic care is an effective way to correct these spinal and pelvic misalignments, which can help runners prevent injury and achieve their training goals.
While many runners will seek out the treatments of a massage therapist or athletic therapist for the muscle injury, if the spinal and hip alignment is not corrected, these injuries will repeat and become chronic.
Chiropractors use diagnostic tools and specific analysis of the spine and hips, to help determine whether alignment is optimal. If not, a series of gentle chiropractic adjustments to gradually realign the spine and hips can help prevent further injury and improve athletic performance.
For runners, chiropractic care can be an important addition to your training routine.
