I use advice from a chiropractor to manage most of the running injuries I encounter these days, though I have had nothing serious for a while. This has included advice on rehab and prevention (stretching and strengthing, etc). I have also had treatment for some emerging issues that I could not deal with myself. One example was a clicking tendon when walking upstairs. This was effectively treated in one session.

A little over 3 years ago, I hearniated my L3/L4 disc; probably because I cinched up my weightbelt too much when I went diving. Anyway, I was on laid up for an entire week and still had siatica problems for about a month afterwards.

My PCP sent me for an MIR which confirmed the problem. He gave me a list of surgons "in case I needed them".

A friend of mine suggested I go see her chirpractor so I gave it a shot. After I (literally) crawled in for my first appointment, I was seeing him 3 times/week. Up until a month ago, I was down to 1 visit every 2 months and "still vertical".

This year, I started running in March. Doin' fine up until a couple of weeks ago when, based on what I've seen on this website and a bunch of other websources, I tore my calf muscle. That was the day before my regullarly scheduled chiro visit. When I went in, I didn't say anything, hopeing he'd see what I've been feeling. Right away, he noticed that my left leg was TOTALLY out of whack and proceded with a bunch of adjustments in that area.

Hopefully, it will help with the musclemending, and I can start slowly getting back to where I was before.

Couple of things; my chiro does not use hand manipulation. He has this little plunger thingie that resembles a miniature pogostick. He feels around for the verterbrea/bond/joint that is out, lines up this little wonder tool, and pulls the trigger, WHACK.

Another thing, the usual disclaimers apply, your milage may vary, professional driver on a closed track, read the prospectus carefully, yadda, yadda. In other words, everybody's results may be different, but for me, I constantly sing this guy's praises.

And hopefully, I'll be lacing them up SOON!

Good luck!

It's not surprising that orthopedic surgeons and chiropractors dont get on.

Chiropractors see surgery as a last resort or failure. Surgeons do surgery.

Sure there are quack chiropractors, perhaps more than in more manstream medicine, I don't really know for sure, but f you get a good one, they can be wonderful.

Note chiropractors in the US get proper medical training, like doctors - not so in the UK. Not sure about other countries.

-b

I saw a chiropractor for hip and leg issues while training for the Twin Cities Marathon. She repeatedly said, "I get runners through these types of injuries all the time, you're going to make your marathon just fine." Today was the marathon, I did not make it to the start line.

I was on a 10 mile run, when it felt like my hip exploded, and then the pain eased, but the rest of the run I felt off. I had tilted my pelvis 3 other times, in other sports, and was suspicious I had done it again.

The next day I went to the Chiropractor and told her about my hip pain, and a dull aching pain in my calf that had just started. She said my hip flexors were very tight. I really didn't think my hip pain was that bad, but when she started pressing, and had me stretch, it was clear I was very tight. She did not address my calf pain. She gave me the clear to keep running. I saw her three times that week for electronic stimulation on my glutes and adjustments. I ran a total of 50 miles that week.

The next week since my hips were aching, and my leg was worse. I went to a different chiropractor. She said my one leg was 3/4 of inch shorter because of tilted pelvis. Still she gave me the clear to run but I was very concerned about the shorter leg and my leg pain and decided to only aqua jog.

I saw her for the next three weeks, but pelvis would tilt hours after her adjustments. It was very frustrating. She kept encouraging to run, "just a short run" she said. But every time I tried my leg felt wrong, and I stopped.

Finally after four weeks of me raising concern over my leg, she finally tried something to help me with my leg, and did the electronic stimulation on my calf. She also suggested Graston, and acupuncture.

Instead I went to my family doctor who did an x-ray, bone scan, and then MRI. I have been diagnosed with a stress fracture in my tibia.

I regret going to the chiropractor. I think had I gone to my family doctor, and requested physical therapy I may have been able to prevent the stress fracture, or at least identify the injury sooner.

Chiropractors rush you in and out of the office. They do the adjustments, without taking time to address what is causing the adjustments to keep being needed.

I am an avid golfer and runner, as a result I put a great deal of stress on my body. When I first injured my back I had pain going down into my legs and I was in a lot of pain. I went to an orthopedist who without evan touching me said, "you need to have surgery". I asked him about medications, physical therapy, and chiropractic. His response was what ever you do "don't goto the chiropractor". I had an MRI which revealed a herniated disc, I refused surgery, he referred me to a physical therapist and a month later I still had pain shooting down my leg. So I asked what else we could do, and he still recommended surgery. I am stubborn and I look at surgery as the very last option. So I went to a chiropractor, and one month later I was pain free and golfing. I went in to see the orthopedist and told him he better start referring to chiropractors. He refused to believe that chiropractic was what helped me.

About two months ago I started developing a sharp pain in the arch of my foot. I wen to a diferent orthopedist who told me my calves are tight and I need to loosen them. But this did nothing for my foot pain. I decided to see what the chiropractor would say. He treated me by adjusting my foot, and ankle. He also used acupuncture on my calf and foot. He also recommended that I take the stick and use it on my calves and stand on a tennis ball. My foot is almost 100%, I'm golfing and running again, and I'm glad I looked for other alternatives.