Running is hard on the joints, and not just the ones in the legs. With every stride, you take your full weight impacts every joint in your body. While a severe misalignment is readily noticeable, smaller misalignments may go unnoticed and add up over time. This can throw your stride off, causing you to run less efficiently, even if there is no noticeable discomfort. In addition to joint impact, runners in Brookfield WI experience increased risks for injuries to their muscular system.

One of the most pervasive fallacies in sports medicine is that a chiropractor is only trained to work on the skeletal system, when in fact both professional and Olympic sports teams all have a sports chiropractor on their staff to help their athletes deal with issues of the entire skeletal-muscular system. There are multiple techniques chiropractors use to help runners perform at their best.

The Graston Technique in Brookfield WI

Also known as Instrument Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization, or IASTM, the Graston Technique is designed to break up areas of concentrated scar tissue. Scar tissue builds up over time, and as you age scar tissue can thicken and become tougher to break down. IASTM employs specially-designed tools that first locate and then work to break down the bonds of the scar tissue fibers, allowing for increased mobility of joints. IASTM is also useful in treating tendinopathy and for postoperative care.

Active-Release Technique

The Active-Release Technique, commonly referred to as ART, is the most typical method of treating non-skeletal injuries. ART is used to restore the range of motion and is also helpful for issues of chronic pain from an injury, overuse, and postoperative care. However, it is imperative that the Active-Release Technique only be administered by an ART certified chiropractor who has experience working with patients with similar injuries.

Injury Prevention

As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Chiropractors can help runners prepare for a race by performing skeletal adjustments, tissue massage and specific exercises that can help you perform better and avoid injury to the tendons, ligaments, and muscles, as well as the bones and joints.

Summary

Skeletal-muscular misalignment and injury can result in something just not feeling quite right to causing obvious pain. Sports chiropractors are specially trained to work the muscles, as well as the joints, can both help alleviate pain from injuries sustained from running and can also aid in preventing new injuries. If you are a runner searching for a sports chiropractor in Brookfield WI, New Berlin WI, or Williams Bay WI or would like more information on how our practice can help you perform at your best, give us a call today.