Dr. Ness has started uploading exercise videos and stretches to his youtube channel. Our first video is on foam rolling for the lower extremities and spine. Please check it out, leave a comment, like our video, and subscribe to Dr. David Ness to get the latest videos on maintaining your health and wellness.
We are pleased to announce that our office will be providing ART Ironman Performance Care for the following events in 2017. Please check back in the spring to see the Shawangunk Runner’s Summer series schedule.
4/15/17 – Breakneck Ridge, Beacon, NY http://rednewtracing.com
5/13/17 – Spring Dual for CF, New Paltz, NY, http://springdualagainstcf.com
5/21/17 – American Zofingen, New Paltz, NY, http://www.active.com/new-paltz-ny/american-zofingen-2017
8/5/17 – Lime Kiln Trail Runs, Rosendale, NY, http://rednewtracing.com/
9/10/16 Survival of the Shawangunks, New Paltz, NY, http://sostriathlon.com
Running is one of Americans’ favorite forms of exercise. The reasons for its popularity are simple — it can be done almost anywhere, takes no special equipment, and burns lots of calories. Running also offers a great many health benefits such as weight control, decreased blood pressure and cholesterol, and relief from stress.
Everything with running is fabulous, right up until the time you hear a snap, crack, or pop. The downside of all the wonderful benefits is that running causes its share of injuries to the body.
The Ohio State Chiropractic Association presents an alarming statistic that two-thirds of runners will be injured in some way. Tendonitis, shin splints, ankle sprains, hip pain, and knee strains are a few of the many injuries brought on or exacerbated by a regular running routine.
It’s important to take common sense precautions to not get injured in the first place. Purchasing high quality shoes and respecting the body’s limits are two excellent choices.
Another great choice is committing to chiropractic care. Regular runners can reap many positive results from visiting a chiropractor. Three big benefits chiropractic care offers for runners are the following:
Loose and relaxed joints allow for greater flexibility and movement, all of which benefit a runner’s gait and time. A study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine found evidence that a chiropractic treatment regimen increased mobility in the hips over time.
While chiropractic care does not guarantee an individual will experience an increase in speed, unrestricted joints and better range of motion will definitely help a person move more freely and stand a better chance of avoiding running injuries.
Unfortunately, runners frequently deal with injuries, some of which take weeks or months to heal. For dedicated runners, a serious injury is terrible news.
The first action for runners after they have been injured is to stop running so it can heal. Most runners do not want to risk losing the stamina that interrupting their routine brings on.
Chiropractors can work with runners who have injured themselves from the repetitive motion of running regularly. By using chiropractic adjustments, chiropractors can promote healing in the body as a whole. Runners love this because they want to get back to hoofing it as quickly as possible.
A spine out of alignment can cause other parts of the body to be weaker and more susceptible to injury. One part of the body compensating for another that is off kilter is one common way runners end up hurt.
Chiropractic treatment helps to keep the spine in alignment, which can have a ripple effect through the body. Regular adjustments can reduce the negative impact the jarring motion of running has on a person’s body, and help avoid running-relating injuries on the front end.
Running is a popular exercise routine for many, and yields a multitude of positive results to a person’s health and well-being. By taking proper steps to minimize the chance of injury, runners can enjoy the good points running brings to the table and steer clear of the bad.
Chiropractic care can be an effective part of making certain your body is in prime running condition and resistant to injury. If a person ends up dealing with an injury, chiropractic treatment may be able to boost healing time.
Ready! Set! Go!
If you are a runner and would like to talk further about the benefits chiropractic care offers you, contact us today for a consultation.
Do you suffer with back pain? Well, you’re not alone. According to the American Chiropractic Association, back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work, and the second most common reason for visiting a doctor (only behind upper respiratory infections).
Why is back pain so common? There is more than one answer to that question. A large number of back pain patients suffer because of the following three reasons:
Individuals can hurt their backs by lifting heavy objects, overexerting themselves, or moving the wrong way. The muscles and ligaments in the back can be twisted and damaged.
Back pain that is the result of a recent injury is called acute pain, meaning it comes on suddenly. Acute pain is usually temporary, so when the injury heals, the pain lessens or disappears completely. Over the counter medications such as analgesics, topical creams, and anti-inflammatory drugs help manage back pain caused from an injury but don’t necessary fix the problem.
Chiropractic care is another way to lessen acute pain and feel more comfortable. By adjusting the spine, chiropractors can relax the muscles, and relieve acute pain faster than simply “suffering through” the injury.
Unfortunately, there are several illnesses that can cause back pain. Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, inflammatory diseases of the joints, and scoliosis are some of the common conditions that cause back pain. Because the conditions create pain that lasts longer periods of time, this type of pain is considered to be chronic pain.
Chronic pain is an entirely different animal than acute pain, and patients who suffer with it often look for options outside of traditional medication. Chiropractic care is an excellent choice in dealing with chronic back pain.
Adjustments to the spine can promote healing in all areas of a person’s body, as well as provide relief from the pain. Chiropractic care for medical conditions sometimes takes a bit longer to show results, so the patient must be committed to the treatment plan the chiropractor suggests in order to enjoy the maximum benefits of chiropractic.
We are pleased to announce that our office will be providing ART Performance Care race coverage for the following events in 2016
4/16/16 – Breakneck Ridge, Beacon, NY http://rednewtracing.com
5/7/16 – Spring Dual for CF, New Paltz, NY, http://springdualagainstcf.com
5/15/16 – American Zofingen, New Paltz, NY, http://www.active.com/new-paltz-ny/american-zofingen-2016
6/22/16 Summer Solstice Run, Minnewaska State Park, NY, http://shawangunkrunners.com/2016-races/
7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1 Shawangunk Running Club Summer Series, New Paltz, NY, http://shawangunkrunners.com/2016-races
9/11/16 Survival of the Shawangunks, New Paltz, NY, http://sostriathlon.com
10/1/16 The Cat’s Tail, Phonecia, NY, http://rednewtracing.com
Scott and I will be at Red Newt Racing’s Breakneck Point Trail Runs providing Active Release Techniques on Saturday 4/16/16.
For more information on this race visit Red Newt Racing’s website at Red Newt Racing
We are pleased to announce that we will be providing post race ART Ironman Performance Care at the following events in 2014. Active Release Techniques (ART) is a patented soft tissue treatment system that removes scar tissue and inflammation from injured muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. ART is used by triathletes and professional athletes to improve performance and recover faster from the aches and pains of training and competing.
April 26th, 2014-Spring Duathlon against CF, New Paltz, NY
May 18th, 2014- American Zofingen, New Paltz, NY
June 11th, 2014- HVTC Summer Series Race 1, Woodstock, NY
July 9th, 2014- HVTC Summer Series Race 2, Woodstock, NY
August 13, 2014- HVTC Summer Series Race 3, Woodstock, NY
September 7th, 2014- Survival of the Shawangunks, New Paltz, NY
September 10th, 2014- HVTC Summer Series Race 4, Woodstock, NY
In addition, Dr Ness will be the co – race director for the New Paltz Challenge 1/2 marathon and 5k race on father’s day, June 15th, 2014
Hello and welcome to May’s Muscle of the Month! It’s warm and wonderful outside. Running, hiking, and walking in the beautiful weather is a welcome change from those dark winter months that never seemed to end. So while you’re out there, don’t forget to stretch – especially your hamstrings.
What’s a hamstring?
“Hamstrings” is a term most people use to refer to the muscles on the backs of their legs, but there are three separate muscles in that area: semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris. All three muscles bend the knee and extend the hip because all three muscles cross the hip and knee joints (apart from the short head of the biceps femoris which only bends the knee because it only crosses the knee joint).
How to locate the hamstrings:
The hamstring muscles (semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and long head of the biceps femoris) start on your sits bones (ischial tuberosities) and go down the leg to the back of the knee. The semitendinosus and semimembranosus on the inside of your thigh, and the biceps femoris on the outside of your thigh. If you bend your knee, you can feel strong tendons right above your knee where your hamstrings end.
What do the hamstrings do?:
Bending the knee and extending the hip are key motions in running, walking, climbing and virtually all other forms of locomotion. Winding up for a kick or jump will also engage the hamstrings.
Common pains and problems with hamstrings:
When your hamstring is cramped, torn, painful or “acting up,” you feel it. It’s a very big group of muscles. We’ve all had those moments when we spend the better part of a day with a leg up on a table stretching our poor, neglected hamstrings. But even when you’re not in pain, hamstring tightness is huge in limiting flexibility of the spine and legs. Not being able to touch your toes may not seem like a big deal, but that lack of motion directly effects your low back. Chronically tight hamstrings can flatten the lower back, causing your spine to lose some very important curves. Lack of movement can lead to pain, chronic tightness, bad posture, arthritis, and subluxation. Trigger points can refer pain over a large part of the back of the thigh.
How to stretch the hamstrings:
Because it’s used nearly all the time that we are moving, the hamstrings need their own dose of TLC and stretching. Stretching the hamstring is easy because it’s such a big muscle. Start by standing. Walk your left foot out about two feet. Straighten your left knee and push your hips back. You should feel a deep stretch in the back of your left leg. Be careful not to put your hands over your left knee. You can put your hands on your thigh or your calf, but never apply pressure on an extended joint as it can cause damage to that joint. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds and switch legs. Repeat three times for a thorough stretch.
Injuries to the hamstrings can be relieved with active release technique, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, and other bodywork techniques. For increased flexibility of the hamstrings try Yoga, Tai Chi, Karate or other martial arts.
Be sure to visit Performance Sports and Wellness for a full evaluation of your hamstring pain or tightness and to ask any questions you may have.
Don’t have any hamstring pain to complain of? Great! Send this article to someone you know who does.
About Dr. Swann: Dr. Casey Swann graduated from Southern California University of Health Sciences with her Doctorate of Chiropractic in spring 2012. She is full body certified in Active Release Technique and holds certifications in Graston Technique, Cox Technique and Kinesiotaping. She practices at Performance Sports and Wellness with Dr. David Ness in New Paltz & Poughkeepsie.
References:
picture 1: www.athleticquickness.com
picture 2: www.triggerpoints.net
picture 3: www.teachpe.com
As the Track and Field season kicks into high gear we are seeing more and more lower extremity injuries in our office in high school and college athletes. Some of the most common injuries we are seeing are shin splints, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, ITB Syndrome, runners knee, and hip pain. The most common cause of adolescent running injuries are; over training, poor bio-mechanics lower crossed syndrome, incorrect footwear, lack of core strength and stability. All of the above conditions if left untreated can lead to stress fractures anywhere from the spine down to the foot.
The body is a machine and it is designed to work synchronously when running is involved. Normally the knees line up under the hips and above the ankle or foot. There can be slight variations between boys and girls with girls being more prone to a little more angle at the knee due to the shape of the female pelvic bones. When things don’t line up right and your running track & field, stress gets placed on different parts of the body that over time with the volume and intensity of track will lead to any of the above conditions. Another cause of improper stability is a lack of core stabilization. Today’s children’s posture is so poor that they have no core stabilization or flexibility, which when you are a track and field athlete is a recipe for injury.
How do you know the difference between muscle strain and injury? Most injuries begin with some muscle pain or joint pain. Normal aches and pains can be expected in the beginning of the season and after intense track workouts. Pain that doesn’t go away after 2-3 days should be considered abnormal. If a child continues to run with pain compensations happen throughout the body that can worsen the current injury or create a new one.
Below is a brief description of some of the conditions we see in our office, and in the Vassar College Athletic department where I have just finished my third season as the chiropractor and Active Release Techniques provider.
Plantar Fasciitis: pain and swelling in the arch of the foot. Cause: improper arch support, foot weakness.
Shin Splints: pain anywhere along the shin bone. Cause; stress reaction in the bone from overuse, improper bio-mechanics
Achilles Pain:: pain in the tendon above the ankle. Cause: Tight calves and foot muscles, overuse, bio-mechanics
ITB Syndrome/ Runners Knee/ Patella Femoral Tracking Disorder: pain in the knee. Cause: Bio-mechanics, lack of stability and overuse.
Piriformis Syndrome / Hip pain: Cause: Bio-mechanics, lack of stability, and overuse.
Stress Fractures: stress fractures can occur anywhere in bones from the foot to the hip. The most common are stress fractures of the foot, followed by the lower leg, hip, pelvis, and spine. Most stress fractures will prevent an athlete from running normally and will present with acute pain with running. In the past few years we have seen more stress fractures in the femur and sacrum which mimic lower back pain.
The bottom line is that track & field is a highly intense and repetitive motion sport. If your child is not bio-mechanically sound or is beginning to experience pain in their bodies they should be checked out by a sports medicine professional. In our office we use slow motion video gait analysis, and functional movement assessment to determine the underlying causes of most running injuries. Most of the injuries when caught early can be corrected allowing the athlete to continue to participate in their sport. If you wait too long to have something looked at, and your child is unable to run without pain, the injury may lead to the athlete being shut down for a period of time for the injured area to heal, and for the underlying problem to be identified and corrected. Injuries that keep reoccurring are a sign that the real problem has not been identified or the proper treatment hasn’t been received. A proper diagnosis needs to be found so the proper treatment and rehab program can be administered. In our office we use ART to treat most soft tissue injuries, and corrective exercise prescription to address bio-mechanical deficiencies. Most of our patients recover within weeks instead of months because of the speed in which ART treatment works, sometimes within 4-6 treatments over a few weeks.
Dr. Ness has been in private practice since 1988 with offices in New Paltz and Poughkeepsie. He is the official chiropractor and Active Release Techniques provider for the Vassar College Athletic Dept, and the Hudson Valley Triathlon club. He has cared for hundreds of injured runners and triathletes from pro’s and elite age groupers to weekend warriors and beginners. If your child has pain or an injury that hasn’t responded to treatment call us today at 845-255-1200, or you can email Dr. Ness by filling out our contact form.