Problems Common to Runners & Joggers

Interview of Dr. Hillis by Kitt Walsh of A Way With Words


Thousands of Americans join the ranks of runners and joggers everyday. While this is one of the most convenient and least expensive forms of exercise available, running is not without its problems. An uneven surface, a random stone, an unseen puddle, or even a formerly sedentary lifestyle prior to this new enthusiasm, can al present hazards to a runner’s health.

“There may have been a slight trauma or injury to the lower extremities which never surfaced until the person started running,” says Dr. Daniel P. Hillis, a Chiropractic Physician trained in the treatment of just such injuries. “But once detected, many of these conditions can be successfully treated, without medication or surgery.”

One of the most common and often overlooked injuries which affect runners is Talus Alignment, which causes pain around the ankle area and may lead to a tightening of the font muscles of the leg, commonly known as “shin splints.” This condition is caused by overuse by a newcomer or by a veteran trying to push the envelope and gain those extra seconds. When the talus (the center bone between the leg and ankle) gets out of alignment, the muscles of the leg spasm in an attempt to stabilize the ankle. The spasms cause the pain. A chiropractic physician observes the deviation (The talus shifts inward or outward), performs Kinesiology testing and/or “motion palpation” – the art of examining structures in motion. The doctor can either then gently adjust the talus back into the correct position or, if the injury is too severe, use a mechanical adjusting instrument called an Activator, which puts out a one-pound recoil force to help realign the bone. Also diagnosed and treated in the same way is another common injury: Calcanus Deviation or heel displacement. The gently thrusting needed to realign the heel is usually never uncomfortable.

Tibial Tortional Misalignment or a twisting of the tibia (the large, weight-bearing bone between the knee and the ankle) occurs when the tibia is torqued to one side or the other. A chiropractic physician can diagnose this problem by taking the patient outside and asking them to walk, observing their gait and posture, and by Kinesiological stress tests. This condition is corrected by mobilization, a gently, repetitive twisting of the tibia until it assumes the correct position. This problem is usually resolved quickly.

Forward Hip Displacement is usually caused by overstretching the quadriceps, usually while warming up for a run. When a runner grasps their ankle and pulls it behind the back in an attempt to stretch the quads, they can inadvertently displace the hip bone a millimeter or more from its natural position in the socket. Simple but exact adjustive thrusts by the chiropractic physician exerting 3 - 8 pounds of pressure is usually all that’s necessary to realign, although sometimes a myofascial technique called spindle-cell work is necessary to help loosen muscles.

Two other common problems encountered by runners are Foot Pronation or collapsed arches and Foot Supination, where the muscles at the bottom of the foot shrivel and tighten, creating flattened or excessive arches. There are many techniques your chiropractor can use to correct these conditions and, in more chronic cases, orthotics inserts in your shoes frequently helps.

“The good news is that most people will be back in action quickly,” says Dr. Hillis. “The key is to speed up the healing process by paying attention to what your body is telling you and getting help for the problem before it becomes chronic and harder to treat.”

Dr. Hillis also recommends a new spin on the old admonition “See your doctor before beginning any exercise program.”

“I recommend getting a Runner’s Profile examination done before undertaking an exercise program involving running,” he says, citing an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Such an examination would also benefit the serious amateur and professional runner seeking performance enhancement. Walkers with problems may benefit from this profile also.

“People will study sporting equipment catalogues, subscribe to runner’s magazines and spend hundreds of dollars on their shoes,” Hillis says, “when what they really should be paying attention to is the structural alignment of their feet.”