Running is a sport of passion; why else would runners push their bodies to the limit.  Running injuries are unfortunate but a very common occurrence.  Fast and proper identification of running injuries is the key to receiving effective treatment.  Chiropractic, physical therapy, and massage therapy can help to keep you on the trails!  If you are a long time runner or just starting out, ask your chiropractor about common running injuries to watch out for.  Some very common injuries include but are not limited to the following: ITB Syndrome (Iliotibial Band), Plantar Fasciitis, heel spurs and stress fractures, Achilles tendonitis, Patellar tracking disorder, pelvic imbalance, and a spinal subluxation.  It is crucial to work yourself up to a large run; this is a gradual process that should involve training, adequate stretching, and of course chiropractic care.  Running into Problems while you’re on a run is not ideal!  Injuries to athletes of all ages can have long term effect on the overall health and fitness of the individual.  In many cases, sports injuries can be due to overuse of a particular area of the body.  Don’t let sports injuries prevent you from doing what you love; don’t let surgery be your first choice or your last option.  Discuss conservative treatment options with your Chiropractor before your condition requires surgical intervention.  Chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists have extensive experience rehabilitating a number of conditions. 

Chiropractic care

Chiropractic works to restore balance to the most important body system in the human body-the nervous system.  The nervous system controls and coordinates every organ and body part.  Chiropractors eliminate interference to the nervous system by eliminating subluxations, or mis-alignments to the spine.  Their goal is to allow the nervous system to function at optimal level or in the top 10% of health.  If there is interference to that particular nerve, the organ that corresponds to that nerve may not function properly and disease may ensue.  Chiropractors deliver a HVLA (high velocity low amplitude) thrust to correct the subluxation allowing the body to function properly.  This will in turn alleviate muscle tension and fixation of immobile joints.  In addition to regular adjustments, your Chiropractor may incorporate corrective rehabilitation such as mechanical traction to re-shape the curves in your spinal column.  These may be abnormal from a car accident, trauma, or repetitive stress injury.  They may also provide passive modalities such as electrical muscle stimulation and ultrasound, massage therapy, acupuncture, and assisted resisted technique type of stretching. 

Osteoarthritis (OA) is also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease (DJD).  Symptoms may include pain, tenderness, clicking, locking, and inflammation.  OA most commonly affects the hips, knees, hands, feet, and spine.  When OA affects the hands, Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes may be present on the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints.  It has been researched that overuse and activity may be linked to the development of Osteoarthritis or dramatically increase one’s risk for the condition.  Overuse can damage the joints and break down the cartilage within them.  Ultimately, this will cause local pain and inflammation.  There are two types of Osteoarthritis: primary and secondary.

Primary and Secondary

This is a chronic degenerative disorder related to the body aging.  As we age, we lose the water capacity within our joints, causing the joints to therefore breakdown.  In the spine, OA will cause bony outgrowths known as osteophytes. On the contrary, Secondary OA is caused by one of the following conditions: Diabetes, congenital disorders of a joint, inflammatory diseases, septic arthritis, Marfan syndrome, obesity, Alkaptonuria, and Hemochromatosis. 

Diagnosis 

Diagnosis of OA is straightforward for the most part.  A physician will take a detailed case history and through physical exam; however, the real diagnosis is made once the physician looks at an x-ray report.  Upon x-ray of an Osteoarthritis patient, the physician will observe the following changes: decreased joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis, subchondral cyst formation, and osteophytes. 

Treatment 

There are many advancing treatments for the treatment of Osteoarthritis patients.  They include but are not limited to: lifestyle modification such as diet and exercise, analgesics, physical therapy, chiropractic care, surgery, glucosamine supplements, acupuncture, and other supplementation such as vitamin A, C, E, ginger, turmeric, omega-3 fatty acids, and chondroitin sulfate. 

Chiropractic care 

Chiropractors can significantly reduce the effects of OA.  They can increase range of motion and reduce pain and local inflammation by administering manual manipulations and incorporate physiotherapy modalities.  These modalities may include the following: ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, cold laser treatments, inter-segmental traction, whirlpool, spinal decompression, paraffin baths, and diathermy.  Since OA is a wear and tear type of condition, significant improvement is not very common.  The above treatments may help relieve the patient’s symptoms; however, most patients won’t get significant re-growth of the cartilage which has broken down.  Most will only see minor improvements according to the current literature out there. 

What is Trigger Point Therapy 

During a trigger point therapy session, the massage therapist will apply pressure to sore muscles in order provide some relief.  It is not uncommon that masseuses will combine a Swedish massage with trigger point therapy to obtain the best results.  There are two types of trigger points, active and latent.  Active trigger points will pass on pain to another area of the body when pressure is applied to the original sore spot.  Latent trigger points are only painful when pressure is applied to the direct spot.  The pain does not travel to other areas unlike active trigger points.  Physicians believe latent trigger points are caused from stiff joints and a restricted range of motion.  Trigger points are also known as knots and are very common in many people.  Some causes of trigger points include: accident or falls, poor posture, and overexertion. 

Purpose 

The purpose of treatment is to reduce pain and retrain the muscles into painless habits.  After 3 or 4 treatments the tenderness and pain is reduced and range of motion is increased.  Many individuals will also see an increase in flexibility, coordination and circulation.  Some people who would benefit from trigger point therapy include: athletes, arthritis patients, individuals with carpal tunnel, migraine sufferers, or people recovering from accidents or trauma.  People who can perform trigger point therapy are physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors.  Medical doctors are not trained in this specialty.  This treatment is a great non-invasive alternative to prescription drugs or surgery. 

History of Trigger Point Therapy

Janet Travel is credited for creating many theories behind trigger point therapy.  She was John F. Kennedy’s personal physician and treated him for back pain with this method.  This was defiantly a first for women during this time period.  She published papers on trigger point and then published the first volume of The Trigger Point Manuel.  In 1992, a second volume was released. 

Chiropractic care and massage therapy work well together for the treatment of musculoskeletal problems for patients. Because these two therapies work well together, many times a chiropractic physician will employ massage therapists in their office to provide a greater scope of care for their patients. Chiropractor massage is more widely accepted and utilized by the patient population. According to a 2005 poll in Consumer Reports, chiropractic care and massage therapy were reported by consumers as their most favorable options for the treatment of back pain. A large percentage of consumers reported that receiving chiropractic care was the most effective treatment option compared to conventional medical treatments and deep tissue massage therapy was rated as a very effective treatment tool for patients who complained of osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. The report also stated that people found the exercises they received from chiropractic physicians to be very effective in helping with conditions such as depression, insomnia, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, allergies and respiratory problems. Alternative and conservative forms of health care such as chiropractic care and massage therapy are becoming more popular among patients because in general these treatments are low risk options that have the potential to relieve pain and discomfort without the use of drugs and surgery.

Very Popular

A chiropractic physician will employ massage therapists because a massage session can be lengthy. Massage therapists are also trained in a wide range of massage techniques so a patient can be sure that they are receiving knowledgeable care from the therapist. A chiropractor may choose to have their patients receive a massage prior to spinal manipulation. This is done to relax the muscles to make an adjustment more easily accomplished. A very popular form of massage therapy is deep tissue massage. This technique works well for chronic muscle spasms, overuse muscular injuries and more. This form of massage is not considered a relaxation massage because it can produce some discomfort. Massage clients may feel sore following this type of massage and it is recommended that a person drink large amounts of water following the session to help remove the lactic acid that is released during the massage. Often times a chiropractic physician will offer chair massage services to the public for free during health fairs, business stress relief days and trade shows. These 10 minute chair massages are performed by massage therapists and are considered mini relaxation massages. Chair massage is just a small taste of what a massage session can do for sore muscles.

References Cited in this Article

www.webmd.com

www.spine-health.com

Do you suffer from constant, chronic Back Pain?  You’re not alone, nearly 90% of all Americans will experience some sort of back pain in their lifetime.  Back pain is one of the most common reasons for absenteeism in the work place.  Employers are always looking for modern ways to provide ergonomic furniture and equipment for employee use to decrease this epidemic.  Back pain may be acute, chronic, mild, to severe in nature.  For pain relief, many Americans take over-the-counter medications to decrease pain and inflammation.  Although this is a temporary mask for the pain, it does not eliminate the cause of the pain.  Back pain can be due to a variety of conditions or diseases including but not limited to: strain/sprains, cancer, Sciatica, Piriformis Syndrome, disc herniations, spinal stenosis, rib fractures, trauma, whiplash, subluxations, pregnancy, and many more.

Chiropractic care

Chiropractors are skilled physicians who study in great detail the nervous system.  They study over seventy courses like: clinical neurology, human anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, pathology, embryology, histology, dermatology, gynecology, orthopedic testing, clinical nutrition and biochemistry, physiotherapy, radiology, and many more.  The nervous system controls and coordinates every organ system and body part in the entire human body.  All nerves correspond to a body part; when these nerves are compressed via bony structures, they cause that particular body part to function at less than optimal capacity.  Chiropractors will take a detailed case history, perform a through physical examination, and take x-rays if need be.  They use the art of static and kinetic palpation to safely and effectively find subluxations, or mis-alignments within the spine and/or extremities.  Once the cause of the back pain is determined, the Chiropractor will implement a treatment program to follow.  This is specific depending on the patient’s age, condition, and severity.  No two patients or their conditions are alike so a specific treatment plan is ideal and necessary.  They may incorporate physiotherapy modalities such as electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound therapy, spinal decompression, inter-segmental traction, whirlpool bed, hot/cold packs, diathermy, etc.  They may also employ the use of a clinical massage therapist and/or acupuncturist to further achieve the desired results.  

There are many causes of back pain and it is now accepted that back pain can also be the result of stress. This appearance of back pain brought on by stress is now referred to as tension myositis syndrome, or TMS. Dr. John Sarno, who practices and teaches physical medicine and rehabilitation at New York University, coined the term and has been researching stress and back pain. It is thought that back pain is either the result of stress or that the stress is maintaining an already present back issue. When stress is a factor in back pain, the diagnosis is considered psychological or psychosomatic in nature. Back pain from stress can be caused by tension in the spinal muscles from stressors. Back pain can also be caused by anxiety and changes in posture and body mechanics during episodes of stress. It is important for the patient to realize that although the symptoms are physical, the treatment plan for dealing with the back pain needs to include a focus on the stress as treatment will not be physically successful if the stress remains.

Manage Stressful Situations

Many people will visit a chiropractic physician when experiencing back pain. It is important when discussing lifestyle habits to communicate information about personal stress levels, to make it known that stress is affecting daily activities. A physical examination will be able to rule out other causes of the back pain and a treatment plan will be made that takes stress into account. Along with chiropractic manipulation, massage therapy and heat and icing can be included in offering relaxation and inflammation reduction to the tense muscles of the body. Counseling will include recommendations for regular exercise, a stretching and strengthening program, proper nutrition advice and information in helping to cope and manage stressful situations that cannot be avoided. Activities such as yoga and meditation will be discussed as ways to reduce the amount of stress physically impacting the body. It is important to recognize your physical and emotional limits as well, knowing and accepting what you can and cannot do can greatly decrease your stress level. When dealing with situations that are beyond your control, it will be physically beneficial to your body to accept these circumstances and find ways to accomplish difficult tasks in a healthy, less stressful manner. In most cases, when stressors are discovered and reduced, back pain will diminish and you will be able to avoid future back pain by working on managing the stress in your life.

References Cited in this Article

www.spine-health.com

www.spineuniverse.com

It is quite common that people suffering from chronic pain will experience sleep disorders. When the body is experiencing pain, short-term or long-term pain, daily activities can become interrupted, including sleeping habits. Approximately 65% of people who report chronic pain complain of interrupted or non-restorative sleep. Of all forms of chronic pain, chronic back pain is the most common. When chronic back pain is present, a study found that nearly two thirds of the sufferers also experienced a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders and back pain are common and can exacerbate one another. Sleep habits that deteriorate can cause the back pain to become more severe, creating an unwelcome cycle that may last for long periods of time. When chronic pain is present and is accompanied by sleep disturbance, it is generally recommended that treatment include addressing both issues at the same time. This means that along with physical forms of treatment that focus on the chronic back pain, psychological and behavioral forms of treatment be available to address the sleep problems. Sleep disorders do not necessarily need to be treated with medication and it is safer to try other forms of treatment before deciding on medication as most sleep aids can become habit forming.

Insomnia

When the term insomnia is mentioned, it is often thought that it means difficulty in falling asleep. While that is a form of insomnia, there are other forms as well. Insomnia can mean difficulty falling asleep, problems staying asleep and also waking before fully rested. When beginning treatment for chronic back pain, it is important to rule out other health problems that may be contributing to sleep disturbances. Sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome can also cause poor sleep habits. When other factors have been ruled out, a treatment plan can be developed to help a back pain sufferer find better sleep and experience less pain. Some causes of chronic back pain include disc herniations, disc degeneration, scoliosis and stenosis. Chiropractic care can help to reduce pain and inflammation of spinal nerves that may be causing pain within the back and other areas of the body. Spinal manipulation is effective when dealing with most forms of chronic back pain. Working with both a chiropractic physician and a primary care physician or a sleep specialist can help to maximize positive results, resulting in better sleep with less pain.

References Cited in this Article

www.spine-health.com

www.nih.gov

Shin splints, also called medial tibial stress syndrome, is a very common condition in athletes. It is often used as an umbrella term to describe any pain felt in the front of the leg. The actual condition of shin splints occurs when there is inflammation to the sheath that surrounds the leg bone called the tibia. This sheath (periostium) can become inflamed from forces caused by the muscles of the leg during activity. When the periostium becomes inflamed, pain and swelling can be present around the front of the lower leg, bumps and redness may also be noted. The pain will be exacerbated by activity and it is advised to rest the leg during episodes of shin splints. Runners are commonly affected as well as dancers and members of the military. People with flat feet are more likely to get shin splints compared to people with normal foot arches. In some cases, shin pain may not be the result of shin splints but of tendonitis, a leg fracture or chronic exertional compartment syndrome (muscle swelling due to activity; not common).

Prevention of Shin Splints

It is generally recommended that rest be allowed for several weeks following the onset of shin splints. Discontinuing the activities that cause the pain during these several weeks will help to decrease any inflammation within the sheath of the tibia. Anti-inflammatory medications can be used as well if the pain is overwhelming or bothersome. Conservative care options such as icing the front of the leg (15 to 20 minutes, 4 to 8 times per day for a few days) and compression to the area can also be used to decrease pain. After the initial weeks of rest, physical therapy exercises and stretching can help to possibly avoid developing shin splints in the future. Other options for prevention of shin splints include proper footwear that gives the appropriate support depending on what types of activities are performed during the day. Foot orthotics may be necessary for people with flat arches as they give the added support that shoes do not offer. It is also important to increase the frequency, duration and intensity of exercise gradually, consider cross-training with activities such as swimming and biking, as these forms of exercise produce less strain to the muscles of the legs and to perform strengthening exercises for the lower extremities such as toe raises and leg presses.

References Cited in this Article

www.sportsinjuryclinic.net

www.aaos.org

www.mayoclinic.com

Sciatica is a condition that gets its name from the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body. When this nerve becomes pinched, irritated or inflamed in the lower back, it can cause pain, numbness, weakness and tingling along its path through the buttocks and into the lower extremities. The sciatic nerve is a collection of nerves that originates beginning at the L4 level of the lumbar spine through the S3 level. The nerve branches off and innervates the hip joint as well as muscles of the lower back and extremities. The muscular branch also gives way to the tibial nerve (innervates the muscles of the lower extremities) and the common fibular nerve (innervates most of the muscles of the foot). The collection of nerves that combine to form the sciatic nerve are very sensitive. If there is any disc herniation at the levels of the spine that give way to the sciatic nerve, the bulging inner nucleus of the disc contains proteins that, when coming into contact with the nerves, will easily cause inflammation and irritation.

A Symptom of Another Form of Dysfunction

Symptoms of sciatic nerve dysfunction include weakness, tingling, numbness and pain into the legs and feet felt on one side, pain or a burning sensation into one side of the buttocks or lower extremities that may cause difficulty in standing or walking. Sciatica is more a symptom of another form of dysfunction of the lower spinal vertebrae. It is the result of irritation or compression of the nerve roots exiting the spine from a disc herniation, spinal degeneration or stenosis (narrowing). The severity of the symptoms of sciatica can range from severe and debilitating to mild and manageable. For mild to manageable severity, at-home care such as icing, rest and stretching may be enough to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. For more severe sciatic pain, non-surgical conservative intervention is generally required. Following a health history and physical examination as well as possible diagnostic imaging if an exam produces questionable results, a chiropractic physician will be able to discover the underlying condition that is causing the sciatica and build a treatment plan based on the diagnostic findings. Depending on the underlying cause, if appropriate, physical therapy exercises may be indicated as well as massage therapy, modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, heating and icing to the areas of inflammation and chiropractic manipulations. In most cases, the sciatic pain will begin to dissipate and function in the lower extremities will improve.

References Cited in this Article

www.spine-health.com

www.medicinenet.com

Aside from the joys and happiness of pregnancy, there are some common physical issues that may make the later stages of pregnancy more difficult and painful. Pregnancy and back pain seem to go hand and hand, as most women will complain at some point about feelings of pain or discomfort in the lower back. As the unborn baby develops and grows larger, a woman will notice her center of gravity changing from week to week. Along with this change, the uterus and abdominal muscles will become stretched and grow weak, making it more likely to cause discomfort and increase the chance to become off-balance, putting greater strain on the muscles of the lower back. This increase in abdominal weakness places more strain and tension on the low back muscles and this can cause low back pain. Additionally, hormonal changes during pregnancy, specifically the presence of the pregnancy hormone, relaxin, will cause joints like those in the pelvic area, to become more loose and relaxed, which can cause joint instability and produce pain as well. The two types of low back pain that may be experienced during pregnancy is pain in the lumbar spine and pain that is present in the posterior pelvic region. Lumbar spine pain is felt at the specific lumbar level that is experiencing strain or compression. Posterior pelvic pain is common in pregnancy and the pain felt is lower than lumbar pain, in the buttocks or thighs. The pain may be exacerbated by movement such as walking, lifting, turning while in bed, sitting or leaning forward or walking up stairs.

Sacroiliac Dysfunction

Studies have shown that as many as half of women who are pregnant experience back pain at some point during their pregnancy. From the January 1988 edition of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a paper titled “Low Back Pain during Pregnancy” was published and related a study that was done that included 862 pregnant women in Sweden. Of the 862 women, all of them had symptoms of low back pain. 78% of the back pain was caused by sacroiliac dysfunction. Chiropractic physicians involved in this study provided manipulations to the SI joint and the results produced improvement and reduction of pain in 70% of the pregnant participants. This study shows that chiropractic care during pregnancy, when indicated and appropriate, is beneficial and can provide the desired results. Massage therapy can also help to relax the strained muscles and joints, offering another conservative option for women who complain of low back pain during pregnancy. Because some women have other health problems during pregnancy, it is important to discuss conservative care options with a chiropractic physician before beginning treatment.

References Cited in this Article

www.babycenter.com

www.dynamicchiropractic.com