Feet: Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a common foot injury in runners. It happens when the thick band under your foot, called the plantar fascia, gets irritated or torn from overuse. Many runners feel sharp pain in the heel, especially with the first steps in the morning.
Why runners get it:
– Too much pronation (foot rolling in)
– Flat or high-arched feet
– Tight Achilles tendon
– Worn-out shoes or incorrect form
Plantar fasciitis can become a nagging, long-term issue if left untreated. Over time, inflammation can cause changes to the way a person walks or runs, leading to further issues in the knees, hips, and back.
Shins: Shin Splints
Shin splints, also called Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, cause pain along the inside of your shin. It’s from stress on the shinbone and the nearby muscles and tissues.
They affect 4% to 35% of runners and can come from:
– Running too much, too fast
– Hard surfaces like concrete
– Weak or imbalanced muscles
– Improper footwear or running technique
Shin splints often appear during the early stages of a new training routine or after switching shoes. If not managed early, they can evolve into stress fractures, sidelining a runner for weeks or months.
Knees: Runner’s Knee and ITB Syndrome
Runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain syndrome) hurts in and around the kneecap, often when climbing stairs or squatting. Flat feet, overpronation, or poor running shoes can make it worse.
Iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome causes pain on the outside of the knee or hip, from the tight IT band rubbing along the thigh bone.
Both conditions are commonly tied to poor alignment of the pelvis and lower back. Misalignments can change the way a person absorbs shock when running, adding excess stress to the knees.
Hips
Hip pain in runners often stems from overuse, poor biomechanics, or muscle imbalances. Common diagnoses include:
– Hip bursitis
– Hip flexor strain
– Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
These problems are often linked to spinal misalignments and can result in tightness and uneven gait. Over time, if the hip joint is not moving properly, it can lead to issues in both the knees and the lower back.
Lower Back
Lower back pain is common in runners if the spine isn’t aligned properly or if back muscles are weak. It can also come from tight hips and legs pulling on your low back.
Problems like herniated discs, pinched nerves, and muscular strain are common in runners with underlying spinal issues. Lower back pain can also radiate down into the legs, making it hard to continue training.
Treatment Options That Work
Chiropractic Adjustments (Spinal Adjustments)
Chiropractic adjustments use hands or tools to fix misalignments (called subluxations), improve joint motion, and help your spine work better.
– For low back pain: A study found that chiropractic sessions 2–3 times a week for 2–4 weeks helped runners feel better.
– For running injuries: Regular chiropractic care helps catch small misalignments before they become big problems. It improves flexibility and overall performance.
– Mechanics matter: Better spine alignment reduces stress on the legs and feet, helping prevent runner’s knee, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis.
According to a study from the National Library of Medicine, Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®) has been shown to correct postural and spinal alignment with lasting effects, leading to better functional outcomes for patients with chronic pain.
“CBP® technique, incorporating mirror-image exercises and traction, resulted in significant postural correction and improvement in patient-reported outcomes.”
This alignment-based approach can be especially helpful for runners in Longwood and surrounding areas who need consistent gait mechanics.
Focused Shockwave Therapy (fSWT)
Focused shockwave therapy sends high-energy sound waves to injured tissue, which reduces pain and helps repair damaged structures.
– Plantar fasciitis: Shockwave therapy reduced heel pain 69% after 12 weeks versus 34.5% for placebo.
– Shin splints, knee pain, hip bursitis: These conditions also show excellent improvement with shockwave therapy.
– How it works: It stimulates blood flow, lowers inflammation, and encourages tissue healing through mechanotransduction (stretching cells to start repair).
One study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research found that shockwave therapy significantly improved recovery rates in patients with running-related injuries.
“Extracorporeal shockwave therapy accelerated healing in plantar fasciitis and improved long-term mobility in patients experiencing chronic pain.”
For runners in Sanford and nearby communities, this therapy is a game-changer. It helps reduce downtime and promotes safe return to running.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
Spinal decompression therapy gently stretches your spine to reduce pressure in discs and nerves. It can help treat low back pain and sciatica.
– Effective combination: When paired with chiropractic adjustments or shockwave therapy, results are even better.
– Disc health: Decompression rehydrates spinal discs, improves posture, and decreases nerve pain.
Studies have shown that patients using decompression therapy reported faster relief from chronic low back pain, often related to running or prolonged standing.
For runners in Lake Mary and beyond, spinal decompression can support spinal health while reducing the risk of re-injury.
Combining Therapies for Best Results
Using chiropractic adjustments, shockwave therapy, and spinal decompression together can give long-term relief and better results than using any of them alone.
1. Chiropractic Adjustments
This is the foundation. It restores normal motion, alignment, and balance to the body. When the spine is aligned:
– Legs move more evenly
– Shock is better absorbed
– Muscles fire more efficiently
2. Shockwave Therapy
While chiropractic targets alignment, shockwave targets the damaged tissues directly. It helps with:
– Fast pain relief
– Faster healing
– Better tissue quality
3. Spinal Decompression
This adds a layer of healing, especially for low back problems. Runners with sciatica or disc injuries can benefit most. When you relieve pressure in the spine, your legs and feet can move with less tension and better balance.
Research Proves It
“Shockwave therapy is a commonly used intervention for a number of musculoskeletal conditions, especially those affecting tendons, ligaments, and fascia.”
“CBP® chiropractic methods show strong evidence in correcting sagittal alignment, leading to improved patient satisfaction and decreased pain over time.”
“After 12 weeks, patients receiving extracorporeal shock wave therapy had a median reduction in pain of 69% compared to 34.5% in the placebo group.”
“Chiropractic treatment, when combined with targeted therapies, improved range of motion and reduced pain levels significantly in athletes experiencing lower extremity injuries.”
Final Thoughts
Running gives freedom, fitness, and joy. But foot, shin, knee, hip, or back pain can stop you in your tracks.
Chiropractic adjustments fix alignment and root causes. Focused shockwave therapy heals damaged tissue. Spinal decompression frees up the spine. Used together, they form a powerful path back to pain-free running.
Runners in Sanford, Longwood, or Lake Mary can benefit from this integrated, research-backed approach to stay active, strong, and pain-free.
If you or someone you know is a runner struggling with pain, contact us at Lake Mary Chiropractic to see how chiropractic utilizing CBP®, shockwave therapy, and spinal decompression can help. Don’t wait for small aches to become serious problems—treat the cause, and get back to what you love.
