Chiropractic Benefits for Long Distance Runners
Long distance running is a sport that puts an incredible amount of stress on the body. At a run, the stride imparts the force of multiple times the runner’s weight every time their foot hits the ground. In a long distance run, this action is repeated thousands of times. That means that in one single race, the individual is putting their body under significant amount of stress. When you add in all of the training, this stress can make for some significant problems. This is why a long distance runner will need to take special steps to take care of their body.
Since many of the problems that may arise from long distance running involve the musculoskeletal system, these athletes will often seek treatment from doctors of chiropractic. A chiropractor specializes in the heath of these body structures and they can provide a wide-range of benefits to long distance runners. These benefits include injury prevention, race preparation, recovery from competition and training and the treatment of injuries if the need should arise.
One of the main ways that a chiropractor can help a long distance runner is to help them improve and maintain their body alignment. The stress that can result from running will gradually effect the alignment of the runners back and joints and this can cause significant problems. Not only can this lead to pain and injury, but it can also diminish their ability to compete. With chiropractic adjustments, the athlete can maintain better body alignment and healthier joints.
A sports chiropractor will have special insight into helping long distance runners. These professionals will apply the hands-on adjustments to help maintain alignment and prevent or treat injury, but they will also employ a variety of techniques to compliment the adjustments. Along with working on the back, the chiropractor will also help the individual to maintain healthy feet, knees and hips. All of these body parts are under stress when you are at a run and it is important to approach the care from a variety of angles.
Additional treatment methods that may be employed by a sports chiropractor would include physical therapy treatments, posture correction, nutritional advice, gait and stride analysis and exercise. Since long distance running can expose multiple areas of the body to stress, it becomes necessary to have a comprehensive approach to the problem. The keys to chiropractic treatment for athletes are improving and maintaining performance, injury prevention and treatment and keeping the body in tune and functioning correctly.
While visiting a chiropractor can have benefits for almost any individual, it is especially important for people that put their bodies under extreme forms of stress. The treatment methods that are used by chiropractors will provide a variety of benefits to long distance runners. These benefits can range from better performance to injury prevention and recovery.