Back to the Basics

As both a chiropractor and avid runner, it seems quite fitting that my first article for this newsletter would relate running to back pain; more specifically, low back pain. We tend to overlook the low back as a complaint and focus more on overuse injuries such as Achilles tendonitis and patellar tracking syndromes as our greatest causes of lost training time. When a runner then begins suffering from low back pain (as does 80% of the general population at one time or another), they are left scratching their heads as to the cause. This is where stretching plays a pivotal role in preventative medicine.

We must take home the message that when a muscle is overused it tends to shorten. The hamstrings, a large group of muscles in the back of the thigh originate on the posterior aspect of the pelvis. This is an important fact considering that when they tighten, they tend to flatten out the normal curve of the low back. In conjunction with weak back muscles this flattening effect is more pronounced, and if allowed to continue for an extended period of time, pain ensues. If over a period of years this problem is not addressed, degenerative arthritis could develop in the lower back.

If low back pain has become a reality for you, ask yourself the following questions: Do I have a tight feeling in my low back and/or hamstrings while running or resting? Is this pain of an achy-type quality? Does this pain radiate to the buttocks or legs? Do I have any recent history of stumbles or falls? If the answer is yes to any of these, then you should examine your stretching routine to see if it addresses the hamstrings adequately. If after a 2-3 week period of daily active hamstring stretching the problem persists with no sign of relief, you should consider professional consultation.

Questions? Please feel free to contact me at (607) 272-0186 or via email at jzenny@hotmail.com.

-- Jennifer Stanton

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