I watched the crowds disperse after the Memorial Day celebration at Folsom Field, and lots of people were in a world of hurt. Runners were limping, walking stiffly, and grimacing as they made their way to the bus. Clearly the Bolder Boulder had taken a toll.
The Bolder Boulder is an iconic race and no matter how fast or slow you go it can be a blast. But with post-race pain, the party's over. So if you are out of commission because of injuries, or were disappointed by the race you ran, don't despair. You, too, can be a winner - see Andrea's blog. She had an amazing day at the Boston Marathon 2015. She ran pain-free (yay!) and set a marathon PR - 3:27. Many people tell us that running is the most efficient, cheapest exercise they know. Though they love to run, nagging injuries stop them in their tracks. Between 37-56% of recreational runners suffer an injury in any given year. That does not have to be the case. So, before you retire your running shoes, see what a run screen can do for you. A run screen involves much more than watching you run. We look at your muscle strength and flexibility - we want to see balance from side to side and tip to toe. Sometimes we use a Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) to find your weakest link. Adequate strength and good flexibility are important, and then there's technique. But you don't have to be the perfect human specimen to run without pain. Though we all have imbalances, it takes a trained eye to tell you what matters and what you can ignore. So what keeps you from pain free running? Maybe your stride is too long. Where and how your foot strikes the ground may be creating too much jarring. A tight right shoulder could be limiting hip extension on the left. These aren't things you can easily see or feel. That's why you need a video camera, a treadmill and most of all, a trained eye, to spot what's not working and understand the mechanics enough to know how to fix it. Your problem might require some manual therapy, strengthening exercises, muscle re-education, or maybe you just need to take your shoes off**. Only your therapist knows for sure.
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Click to see Jill's treatment for shin splints |
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Treating Knee Pain - Click for Emily's story |
To schedule a run analysis, call us at (303)444-8707. We're here to help. **Transition to barefoot running requires guidance and a gradual transition. |