It’s the height of summer, the perfect time for getting outside and running circles around Seattle. However, unless you’re careful, starting a summer running or exercise routine can sometimes lead to over-exertion and injury. Here are some common conditions to look out for, from shin splints and stress fractures to Planter fasciitis and Runner’s Knee, as well as techniques to help you get back up to speed, fast.
Shin splints and stress fractures can occur when you receive too much repetitive stress on the shinbone.
Prevention: Try to avoid increasing your exercise intensity or duration too quickly, and be wary of running on uneven or hard surfaces.
A sprained ankle can occur with just one simple misstep. Rolling or turning your ankle the wrong way can stretch or tear ligaments that connect and stabilize the bones in your ankle.
Treatment: Use R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).
Planter fasciitis occurs when the thick tissue along the bottom of your foot becomes inflamed through overuse or being overstretched. This condition can be due to long-distance running, poor arch support/overpronation or sudden weight gain.
Prevention: Careful stretching of the Achilles tendon and the use of orthotics may help prevent or minimize this condition.
Tendonitis, or the inflammation of a tendon, can range from minor pain and stiffness to burning and swelling around a whole joint. Similar symptoms can also be caused by bursitis, or the inflammation of the bursa, the fluid-filled sac that lies between a tendon and skin, or between a tendon and bone.
Treatment: Rest from any aggravating activities.
Runner’s Knee, or patellofemoral pain syndrome, refers to a range of knee disorders with different causes, including overuse, trauma, misalignment, overpronation or weak thigh muscles.
Treatment: R.I.C.E.
Prevention: Stretching and strengthening exercises.
How Chiropractic Techniques and Kinesio Taping® Method Can Help
Dr. Kerry O’Neill and Dr. Jeff Gratton can help improve joint health through chiropractic adjustments focused on returning the whole body—including its extremities—to proper alignment.
Dr. Gratton also administers the Kinesio Taping® Method, a rehabilitative taping technique designed to speed the body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscles and joints. Latex-free and wearable for days at a time, Kinesio® Tex Tape alleviates pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage, which allows for a decrease in inflammation.
Find out more about how chiropractic adjustments and the Kinesio Taping® Method can help you get your exercise program back into high gear.
Call Backfire Chiropractic today: (206) 323-2225
