Rehab and Sports Chiropractic Corner with Dr. Jan Corwin
Rehab and Sports Chiropractic Corner NOTE: This page is viewed best thru
at the present time.
If you have any Sports / Rehab related questions you would like more information on, please send it to Chiropractic OnLine Today. Your information will be forwarded to Dr. Corwin, and will be posted to future editions of Chiropractic OnLine Today.
I'm a 45 year male cacausian from Sweden, who has suffered from several episodes (1- 6 months) of inflammation in my Achilles tendons. It's takes a lot of time to recover, and I not seldom experience a relapse. I usually rest and also adjusts my shoes (a extra sole under my heels). I never liked the idea to take corticosteroids. Not systemically nor locally. I have not consulted a surgeon - so far.
Do you think a chiropractor could help me?
Best regards
Lennart Jönsson
Best of luck,
Jan M. Corwin, DC, CCSP
Dr. Corwin,
I am a 31 year old male, I have just started working out, at this point I am just on a skier. Before I started when I tried to touch my toes I was about a foot short. Now I am touching which is a good feeling but my lower back sometimes has a slight feeling feeling of being strained. I do not bounce when I stretch but I do strech as much as I can and do not feel pain when I am stretching. I am not a limber by any stretch of the word, but it is a goal I am reaching for that as I get older I want to gain flexibility instead of losing it.
I do not have any health problems other then needing to lose 5 or 6 pounds.
1) Could the feeeling of being strained be just part of stretching?
2) What are the important stretches that I should be doing.
3) How long should I hold the stretch and how many reps do I need to do to make sure that I am doing a good job?
4) Any good books that you would recommend for stretching?
Thank you in advance,
Darryl Dodd
For skiing it is especially important to stretch your legs (knees, quads, hamstrings, calves) and back. I believe you should stretch just prior to getting on the slopes. I start my stretching before putting on my boots and continue after my boots are on. You want to feel limber and stretched in case you fall. This way when you fall your chances for pulling , tearing or injuring your lower extremities or back are greatly reduced. You can stretch your upper torso and shoulders, also for insurance. Examples of stretches to do, are well documented and numerous in dozens of books available at every bookstore. Just find a book that appeals to you and follow it!
A stretch should be held at least 8 seconds. Holding it longer is fine. You will discover that some stretches can be held for 8-12 seconds and others longer. Basically, when discomfort becomes seemingly more pronounced than the previous sense of healthy stretch- Stop! Always stretch slowly! Your stretching routine should last at least ten minutes. There are no set amount of reps or sets. When you feel stretched or warmed up you are done.
Good Luck -
Jan M. Corwin, DC,CCSP
Oakland, CA
I have been practicing bodybuilding for many years now, and currently I have been receiving treatment by a Chiropractor. The treatment has caused pain in the back to disappear but pain in the right shoulder doesn`t improve. Prior to chiropractic treatment I have received electrical stimulation treatment, that included cold and hot water bags, reduced activity for several weeks and also the use of pain killers and non steroidal drugs that reduce inflamation. The diagnose of the sports specialist was an inflamated tendon of the shoulder that got better only with steroidal antinflamatories, that have nasty side effects. Do you have any suggestion on the cause and treatment of this pain? I have seen it is a very common problem in people that lift weights and also that it is very difficult to heal. Is it a good idea to seek help from an acupunturist?
Additional Information:
I`m twenty two years old, have been bodybuilding for five years now and
X-Rays show that my hip was badly aligned causing the column to curve in
the lumbar area and the neck has no curve although the only problems I`ve
had are pain in the dorsal area (that now has disappeared) and the
shoulder one. The profesionals I`ve consulted include an Ortpedist, A
Sports Physician, and a Chiropractor. Pain has been constant for several
months now.
Thank you for your attention.
Carlos Viniegra
Solutions: Because of your layoff to date, hopefully the tendon inflammation has subsided and the hypertrophy has been reduced naturally. Start your bodybuilding again and identify which exercise causes pain. Either eliminate that exercise or do another one that doesn’t cause pain but stresses that muscle, or decrease the weight and increase reps, or ice the injured area immediately after exercising to reduce inflammation. Also try and do that area first before the muscles get fatigued and less resistant to injury. Use ice after every workout.
Good Luck-Jan M. Corwin, DC,CCSP
Oakland, CA
I am a senior at the University of Pittsburgh who is absolutely fascinated by chiropractics. I will be starting my chiropractic education at Logan in the fall. My question is this: I am very interested in sports as well as chiropractics and I am wondering if any professional sports teams (any sport) have team chiropractors? If so, how does one get involved in this?
Jan Corwin, DC, CCSP
Immediate Past President ACA Council on Sports Injuries
Oakland, CA
I would immediately start a stretching program (yesterday) for your hamstrings - 10-20 minutes a day. Before and after any runs - religiously. I would start my rehabilitation with weight lifting for your hamstrings and quadriceps. I would plan on doing this 3x/ week for the next 12 weeks. Before running again, I would also start riding a stationary bike. You should be able to ride for 30 minutes without any hamstring pain.
Once you have reached this goal start running. Start with a 8 ½ - 9 minute/mile pace. Run a quarter mile- walk a quarter. Use this progression for up to 5 miles getting down to a 7 minute pace. Gradually add hills. Then you will be in shape and strong. Remember you must stretch for your warm up and warm down. My philosophy is - when you think you did enough do another minute.
Happy Running!
Jan M. Corwin, DC, CCSP
Oakland, CA
I am considering removing the plate and screws and I would appreciate your opinion on doing so.Thank you for giving this your attention.
Therefore I will make certain assumptions. Since you have steel plates and screws in your ankle I assume you experienced very severe trauma to your body since you broke your ankle significantly enough to require such extreme measures for treatment. Therefore you most likely now have a leg length discrepancy (one leg shorter/longer than the other). This scenario alone would be enough to cause the muscles and joints of your lower extremities to experience daily imbalances (uneven weight distributions) on weight bearing activities.
The heavier you are the more significant the above scenario is relevant. This would explain why your muscles and joints ache. It may not be directly do to the plate in your ankle, but the secondary problems the trauma and fractured ankle and its treatment caused.
The good news is that you may experience help from seeing a chiropractor or podiatrist or orthopedist who can suggest lifts for your shoes or inserts for your footwear to help balance you out. Try and engage in sports that aren’t completely weight bearing, like swimming.
Am I right in my theory that it is related to what I call "lateral
dominance" from head to toes? If I am correct, is there anything
that I need to be doing to compensate and put a stop to this
foolishness?
Thanks!
Good, because habits can be changed (although difficult) and bad- because habits such as yours seem to be of a long standing nature. Since you recognize the problem of right dominance, start trying to concentrate (mentally & physically) to remedy the situation.
Utilize mirrors in weight lifting to visualize your movements clearly and symmetrically. Workout with a knowledgeable partner who is aware of your problem and can help you correct it. Do exercises that force you to be balanced (i.e. don't use dumbbells- use equipment and machines that promote symmetry, etc.)
Almost all Chiropractors can provide rehab information on back and neck injuries. Always discuss your needs and desired outcomes with your chiropractor. Specific injury rehab sites can be discussed with your inquiry.
Thanks for the question Kevin.