The last most common running injury, Illiotibial (IT) Band Syndrome, is tenderness and inflammation at the outside of the knee when the iliotibial band crosses the knee joint. The pain usually starts while running and can intensify as your run progresses. Walking on hilly surfaces or using the stairs can make symptoms worse.

What causes it? IT band Syndrome is caused by anything that creates tightness in your IT band. The result is likely friction, pain and inflammation. Fallen arches are often responsible. This condition causes the lower leg to rotate inward upon heel strike. This pre-stretches tissue and makes it vulnerable to excessive strain. Pelvic imbalances or restrictions may also contribute to this syndrome.

What can you do? Avoid running on hills. Have Dr. Winchester or Dr. Sneyd check your pelvis and feet for imbalances. Although extremely painful, massaging the outside part of the leg may help reduce the tightness and soreness in the long term. Once the pain is manageable, stretching the tensor fascia late muscle, located on your thigh, as well as the gluteal muscles may help halt the return of this syndrome.

Alignment is key to avoiding running injuries. If you are about to begin a running program or are suffering from any of these injuries, call The Winchester Institute to schedule an appointment for one of the physicians to check your alignment.

If you suffer from IT band syndrome, call 614-760-5555 to see how medical massage and chiropractic adjustments can relieve your pain. For more information, visit www.thewinchesterinstitute.com.

The third most common running injury is runner’s knee (chondromalicia patella). Runner’s knee is pain felt under the knee cap, accompanied by a grinding or popping noise when bending the knee.   You may also notice swelling and redness.

What causes it? Runner’s knee is caused by improper positioning of the patella over the knee joint. This triggers your kneecap to excessively rub against the surface of your leg bones, leading to repetitive wear and tear of the cartilage and recurring inflammation. Improper knee alignment is commonly caused by instability of the feet or pelvis. Tightness or imbalance in the quadriceps muscles also causes symptoms.

What can you do? Stop running and get chiropractic advice. Have your chiropractor check the alignment of your feet and pelvis. Misalignment in the feet may require orthotics and imbalance in the pelvis can be helped with chiropractic adjustments. When the pain subsides, you may want to strengthen the Vastus Medialis Obliquus muscle (VMO) – one of the quadriceps muscles of your thigh- to prevent this problem from returning.

The Winchester Institute also offers rehabilitation services for runners. For more information about rehabilitation programs, visit our website at www.thewinchesterinstitute.com. If you would like to schedule a complementary consultation with Dr. Winchester or Dr. Sneyd, please call 614-760-5555.

Another common running injury is shin splints, or pain or tenderness along the front of the shin where your tibialis muscles attach to your lower leg. The pain is usually sharp when you’re running and often feels achy while you’re at rest.

What causes it? Tendons of the tibialis wrap around the arch of your foot, helping to support it. When the arches experience excessive loads from your foot striking the ground, these tendons are placed under strain. When this happens, your muscles pull away from their attachments to the shin bone. Improper shoes, running on hard surfaces and over-pronation of the feet may aggravate this condition.

What can you do? Avoid running on concrete surfaces. Dr. Winchester and Dr. Sneyd can check the mobility and alignment of the bones in your feet and ankles. If over-pronation is detected, you may need custom orthotics. Once your pain is reduced, regular stretching of the muscles in your lower legs can help stop future problems.

 Are shin splints keeping you from your running routine? Call The Winchester Institute at 614-760-5555 today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Winchester or Dr. Sneyd. For more information about our doctors and services, visit www.thewinchesterinstitute.com.

                During the spring and summer months, running is an activity that picks up in popularity.  It’s a great way to boost cardiovascular health.  However, it can also place a lot of stress on the musculoskeletal structure of the body.  Proper alignment through chiropractic adjustments and massage is the best way to prevent injury.

                Dr. Winchester and Dr. Sneyd often see improper footwear as common causes for running injuries, along with misalignment of the hips and pelvis.  If you think you’ve incurred one of the injuries described, consult with a doctor at The Winchester Institute.  You may need to suspend or reduce your running routine until the injury has healed.  You can help lessen the pain and inflammation of these injuries by applying ice to the affected area for 12-15 minutes every hour to hour and a half as needed.

                The first most common running injury is plantar fasciitis.  Plantar fasciitis is a repetitive strain of the plantar fascia that leads to inflammation of the tissue located at the bottom of your feet.  The pain is typically worst in the morning, and then tends to ease as the day goes on.

                What causes it?  Running puts an increased mechanical load on the arch of your foot.   If your arch is not properly positioned, or your muscles leading to the foot are too tight, you may be adding abnormal stress.

                What can you do?  Besides ice therapy and adjusting your running routine, treatments may also include myofasical stripping techniques applied to the bottom of your feet.  If Dr. Winchester or Dr. Sneyd identifies over-pronation, they may suggest custom orthotics to reduce mechanical stress.  Stretching your calf muscles regularly may help this problem from recurring.

If you need treatment for plantar fasciitis, call 614-760-5555 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Winchester or Dr. Sneyd today.  For more information about The Winchester Institute visit our website at  www.thewinchesterinstitute.com.

Bed-wetting, medically known as nocturnal enuresis, is a common concern for many parents, and it’s an uncomfortable and inconvenient nuisance for both parent and child. While it is normal for children to make mistakes when they’re learning, but at what point does it become abnormal? According to the Canadian Pediatric Society, primary nocturnal enuresis is the involuntary discharge of urine by children old enough to be expected to have bladder control- typically by the age of five. Secondary enuresis occurs when a child who has exhibited bladder control for at least six months begins to wet the bed again.

Dr. Winchester and Associates focus on the identification and correction of vertebral subluxations. If subluxations occur in an area that supplies the bladder and its associated muscles, Chiropractic adjustments may be the answer to a child’s bed wetting.

Is your child struggling with bed wetting? Call The Winchester Institute today at 614-760-5555 to see if Dr. Winchester and Associates can help! Or, visit www.thewinchesterinstitute.com for more information about the clinic!

When a Gonstead Doctor treats an infant, they examine the child’s spine, locate areas that do not appear to be aligned and/or moving properly, and then apply gentle pressure to reestablish proper mechanics of the spine. What is the result? Happier infants and happier parents!

Does your infant have colic? If so call our clinic at 614-760-5555 for help today! Visit www.thewinchesterinstitute.com for more information!

According to medical literature, infantile colic is diagnosed by a “rule of three”: crying for more than three hours per day, for more than three days per week, and for longer than three weeks in a month given the infant is well fed and healthy. Medical experts have yet to come to a consensus regarding the cause. One of the most common theories is that the infant is having digestive difficulties, including excessive gas or reflux. Dr. Winchester and Associates recommend that mothers who breastfeed avoid dairy products for a week to see if it helps reduce symptoms of colic.

Call 614-760-5555 for a free consultation with Dr. Winchester today! Visit www.thewinchesterinstitute.com for more information about services offered at The Winchester Institute.

Dr. Winchester and Associates understand that when an infant is inconsolable, it’s not only the child that suffers. A colicky infant can easily affect the psychological, emotional and physical health of the entire family. That is why Dr. Winchester and Associates urge parents to seek immediate Chiropractic care if their infant is exhibiting signs of colic.

Does your infant have colic? If so call The Winchester Institute at 614-760-5555 for help today!  Visit www.thewinchesterinstitute.com for more information and to read about our doctors.

First, consult with a health care professional. Dr. Winchester is knowledgeable in nutrition and exercise and is an excellent resource for help in weight loss and nutrition.

Second, take control of the two most powerful factors controlling your weight: diet and exercise. Portion control is one of the easiest ways to reduce excess body fat. Eat slowly and stop eating when you are no longer hungry. Think of your body as a machine with moving parts, and give it the right fuel to keep the engine running smoothly!

Third, get moving! Hiring a personal trainer to design a program for you and give you support and motivation will give you the best chance for continued progress, and can keep you interested as your exercise routine varies.

 To learn more about Dr. Winchester’s nutrition program and personal training, call The Winchester Institute at 614-760-5555 today, or visit our website www.thewinchesterinstitute.com for more nutrition information!

As a person gains weight, moving around may become more difficult.   Therefore, many obese people choose to remain inactive. This lack of movement in the joints can accelerate degenerative changes which are seen in cases of osteoarthritis. If an obese person does remain inactive, the extra body weight puts additional stress and strain on the muscles, ligaments and joints.

Postural changes are also common in obese people, usually caused by carrying extra weight on their abdomen. As the size of the mid-section increases, the person’s center of gravity shifts forward and the lower back curve is exaggerated to accommodate for these changes. This adds more compressive loads on the joints of the lower back, increasing the risk of subluxation and pain.

 Call 614-760-555 or visit our website www.thewinchesterinsitute.com today to see how Dr. Winchester can help you alleviate your joint and back pain.