Chiropractic Treatment for Runners

I am pleased to bring you an article from Dr. Donald A Ozello, DC.   He is a Chiropractor at ChampionshipChiropractic in Las Vegas and the Author of the book “Running: Maximize Performance and Minimize Injures”.  It is a perfect topic for my blog.        

Chiropractic Treatment for Runners

by Dr. Donald A Ozello, DC

“If I could put a percentage value on it, I think I compete eight to ten percent better from regular Chiropractic care. I think that is how much of a benefit it is–if not more. If it wasn’t for Chiropractic, I wouldn’t have won the gold medal.” Dan O’Brien, 1996 Olympic Decathlon Gold Medal Winner.

   

Achieve your running goals with the utilization of consistent Chiropractic treatment. Competitive and recreational runners of all ages can benefit from chiropractic care for a myriad of reasons. Beginners to professionals can improve their health, fitness and race day performance with regular chiropractic visits.

   

Chiropractic medicine has a multitude of useful purposes for athletes. These functions include injury prevention, acute injuries, subacute injuries, chronic cases and maintenance care. No matter what phase of care you are currently in, Chiropractic is useful.

Repetitive Trauma: Runners receive Chiropractic treatment to lessen the cumulative pounding that training and competing places on their bodies. As a result of the repetitive nature of the sport, runners commonly acquire injuries such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, ankle sprains, shin splints, iliotibial band syndrome, patello-femoral pain syndrome, hamstring strains and lumbar sprain/strains. Chiropractic medicine is a vital resource for runners in the prevention and management of these and many other running-related disorders.

Description: Chiropractic care is drug-free, surgery-free functional medicine. The primary objective of Chiropractic medicine is to optimize the nerve flow through the re-establishment of correct skeletal motion. Chiropractic doctors utilize a treatment procedure named the Chiropractic adjustment. The Chiropractic adjustment is a high velocity, low-amplitude, focused thrust that restores proper joint motion and reduces nerve impingement.

Adding regular Chiropractic visits to your health routine can help maximize your body’s capabilities. Chiropractic care helps remove the source of a condition, thus lessening the symptoms. The benefits of Chiropractic care go beyond the restoration of correct skeletal motion and nerve flow optimization to include increased range of motion, improved proprioception and decreased symptoms. These factors lead to increased musculo-skeletal function. Optimal function helps with injury prevention, decreased recovery time and improved athletic performance.

Nervous System: The nervous system controls every motion of the musculo-skeletal system. The brain sends a signal to the working muscles. The motion is performed and a return signal is immediately transmitted back to the brain. Impingement of a nerve can lead to pain, weakness, numbness, reduced joint mobility, limited function and decreased performance.

The chiropractic adjustment restores correct skeletal motion which lessens pressure on nerves. Proper musculo-skeletal motion allows nerve signals to transmit from the brain to its destination and back without interference. Optimal nervous system function improves physical performance.

Kinetic Chain: The kinetic chain is a term used to explain how the musculo-skeletal system functions as a synergistic unit. The feet and ankles are the foundation of the weight bearing kinetic chain. Healthy feet and ankles provide a stable, dynamic base for standing, walking and running.

If any of the numerous joints in the feet or legs are not functioning properly another area of the body will compensate for it. Overcompensation or continual compensation places increased demand on a joint, ligament, muscle, tendon or bone. Constant and/or sudden over demand is a precursor for injury.

The weight bearing and repetitive nature of running predisposes the feet, legs and hips for skeletal misalignments. This makes them prime candidates for chiropractic treatment. Correct joint motion in the feet, lower extremities, hips and spine maximizes the capabilities of the entire kinetic chain. A properly functioning kinetic chain lessens the possibility of injury and enhances running performance.

Conclusion: Chiropractic care is a catalyst for improving an athlete’s health, motion and function. Chiropractic treatment helps runners accomplish their goals by placing the body in a position to work at its highest capacity. Consistent chiropractic care helps lower injury risk, promote recovery and raise performance levels. Implement consistent chiropractic treatment in your health strategies to decrease injury risk and enhance running performance.

I am not a doctor and cannot make statements for or against chiropractic care.  I have found that it has personally helped me but I know that people’s opinions on chiropractic care can vary.  I did want to share Dr. Ozello’s information because it could possibly benefit you.  If you find this blog post interesting, please purchase Dr. Ozello’s book “Running: Maximize Performance and Minimize” on amazon.