You all know the importance of exercise on a regular basis.  Being a mother, you also know that it can be hard to fit exercise into your day.  Jogging and walking with your baby’s stroller is a great and easy way to work exercise into your schedule. That’s the good part.

Here is the bad part.  A jogger’s feet strike the ground anywhere from 800 – 2,000 times a mile, at a force of about three to five times her body weight.  That can really cause some wear and tear on your legs and spine.  I see a lot of joggers come in with pain that develops from running.  The most common injuries I see are runner’s knee, shin splints, and inflammation of iliotibial band (known as ITBS). 

Relief of Runner’s Woes

There is a wide variety of treatments for these issues including cortisone shots, anti-inflammatories, or orthotics (inserts in your shoes).  Some runners avoid exercise altogether – which for dedicated runners is an absolute last resort.  Unfortunately, in many cases these treatments give some relief, but many times do not address the underlying cause of the pain.

A common, yet often overlooked, cause of these symptoms is nerve pressure (pinched nerve) in the spine.  What would your back have to do with your shins or feet?  Remember – the nerves that travel through the legs and to the knee and foot all begin from the spine.  The repetitive force on the body that runners face is absorbed largely by the spine.  This can easily (and commonly) cause misalignment of the vertebra, which puts pressure on the nerves in your spinal cord.  Nerve pressure in the lower back can be the cause of conditions known as runner’s knee, shin splints, and foot pain.

With most patients that come to see me with these conditions, a specific adjustment to the lower back alleviates their pain.  The beauty of an adjustment is that it addresses the CAUSE of the condition rather than simply masking the symptoms – all without any negative side effects.

If you are experiencing these kinds of symptoms and are not getting relief through traditional methods, you may very well be a candidate for chiropractic care.  Having an evaluation with a qualified chiropractor is the only way to know.

Dr. Venn is a graduate of Parker College with a B.S. of anatomy and a Doctorate of Chiropractic. He has taken over 320 extra hours of study specializing in the Gonstead system. He resides in Frisco, TX, where he practices at Venn Family Chiropractic. Contact: 972-668-9200, drvenni@aol.com or visit his website at www.drvenn.com.

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