Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Recovery Techniques for Triathletes

The popularity of triathlon competitions is exploding across the world. And like me, most triathletes initially focus on the basics such as training, nutrition, equipment, and technique. 
Most athletes these days do not incorporate state of the art techniques to prevent injury and provoke proper recovery needed to cross the finish line injury free.

Over the past 8 years as a Chiropractic Sports Specialist, I’ve seen a constant rise in the number of patients who participate in triathlon/endurance events. I’ve also seen an increase in injuries due to repetitive overuse and overtraining with a lack of emphasis on recovery. So, here are three recovery tools that I incorporate into my practice and treating patients looking to have a injury free year of racing.

Active Release Technique
Most endurance athletes are unaware of the amount of scar tissue or adhesion their bodies develop from grueling practice runs, swims, and bike rides. A staggering 95% of musculoskeletal injuries are scar tissue related, and can be resolved or prevented with a technique such as Active Release Technique. What exactly is scar tissue? It is a sticky and dense substance that the body’s own immune system develops as a result of damage or micro tears to the fibers inside our muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Scar tissue overtime limits the bodies joint range of motion, and then leads to the injuries that most plague endurance athletes. Active Release Technique involves the use of a practitioner’s hands to gently break down or eliminate the scar tissue to help restore proper range of motion, and ultimately improve the performance that we as Triathletes desire so much.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
I also believe in the recovery and overall health benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. This revolutionary treatment involves the patient relaxing in a pressurized chamber at 4+ psi with 100% pure oxygen. The pressure in the chamber forces the oxygen the patient is breathing in to go into the blood stream and overworked muscles and joints. This treatment reduces swelling and inflammation, increases Glycogen stores (energy), and increases immune system function. Further, HBOT increases the body’s oxygen content and healing rate of overworked muscles by 200%. (Yourwellness.com) Research shows that one 60 minute treatment reduces swelling and inflammation at a rate of taking 40 Motrin without the toxic effects. (sportshyperbarics.com)Time spent in the chamber is typically calming for most patients, and they enjoy reading a magazine, listening to their iTunes or just taking a nap. Patients typically come out of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy feeling energized and ready to get back to training and preparing for races throughout the season.

Deep Tissue Laser Therapy
Finally, a fantastic technology for sports related injuries and recovery is the use of Deep Tissue Laser Therapy. This treatment is a scientifically based therapeutic modality that uses light therapy to stimulate increased circulation and reduce inflammation to an injured site an endurance athlete may be experiencing. This cutting edge technology allows athletes to recover faster from most typical injuries associated with overtraining. This unique treatment is superior for treating sports injuries due to there are no side effects or down time after treatment. This allows the endurance athlete to return to training/racing must faster than conventional medical procedures. Deep Tissue Laser Therapy treatment typically takes 5-10 minutes with multiple applications needed to effectively heal and reduce swelling to the injured or overworked region.

So, if you are a triathlete or simply interested in getting more information any of these recovery tools, I hope you find this article helpful. Adopting one or all three of these techniques into a recovery regimen should help effectively reduce injury, wear and tear to your body as you train and race this year.

Dr. Jeff Eidsvig, DC,ART,TPI-CGFI Board Certified Chiropractor
Active Release Technique Provider
Titleist Certified Golf Fitness Instructor
Willow Bend Sports & Spine Center
is located in Plano, Texas | Get Directions
wbsports-spine.com

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Low Back Pain From Sitting At Work?


Did you know that the number one illness/condition in the world currently is lower back pain?


This condition I see on a daily basis, and mostly from individuals that sit for an extended period of time during work, or just a have a sedentary lifestyle. The reason why it has become so widespread is the lack of true understanding from all doctors of why this occurs while we sit for an extended period of time. If you look back at ancient times we as people were hunters and gatherers, and by no means sit down for 6-10 hours a day with minimal breaks in between.

The human body is meant to move
So you ask how does the back pain occur? Well, here lies the answer that millions of doctors and individuals miss – Scar tissue in the muscles. The scar tissue is generated in and on muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and joints. It is easily formed in the tissues I mentioned from 3 ways, and they are overuse, trauma, or surgery. As anyone of these factors occur there is a lack of blood flow and oxygen due to the tightness, trauma, or tension in the tissues. This leads to the formation of scar tissue and reflects that sitting increases tightness in the specific muscles and tissues.

Hip Flexors
The key tissues that are the cause of most lower back pain I see in my practice are the hip flexors (brings your leg up into a sitting position), Multifidus (lie right along your spine in the back), and the Interspinous Ligament (is between the tips of the spine). When you are sitting for any length of time, the hip flexor is in a shortened state (like your arm holding an object). This creates the Multifidus and Interspinous Ligament to be under high tension with a pulling force on them. Overtime the hip flexor becomes so tight that scar tissue forms and with time the muscle cannot return to its full length. This then pulls your spine forward and increases the arch in your lower back, and puts more strain on the Multifidus and Interspinous Ligament. As this happens for days, months, and years, degeneration from excessive force or load starts to set in, and you end up with disc pathology or arthritis in your spine.

Eliminating lower back pain
To solve or reduce lower back pain, we eliminate the scar tissue in the tissues with gentle effective techniques. This treatment eliminates the abnormal load or pressure being applied to the affected disc(s) and other joints, thus reducing or slowing way down the degeneration that can set in. After treatment is successful with elimination of the scar tissue, the muscles will return to a more normal state, and with some changes in time spent at work or your lifestyle you can become pain free!!!

If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at (972) 312-9310

Dr. Jeff Eidsvig, DC,ART,TPI-CGFI Board Certified Chiropractor
Active Release Technique Provider
Titleist Certified Golf Fitness Instructor
Willow Bend Sports & Spine Center
is located in Plano, Texas | Get Directions
wbsports-spine.com

Monday, January 30, 2012

The Truth About Treadmills and Injury...
Everyday thousands if not millions of people run on treadmills to get a good cardio workout. Sadly, more than 75% of people that use them run with a zero incline, and put themselves up for serious musculoskeletal injury. When we run on treadmills, we are actually airborne in midstride and neither foot makes contact with the belt. The backward motion of the treadmill grabs the heel and more quickly than road running draws the foot forefoot onto the belt. This accelerated motion actually mimics running slightly downhill. This motion makes our bodies use more shin muscle strength, thus causing very common shin splint injuries I see in my practice. While running on treadmills the hip flexors are commonly affected. This is do the treadmill pulling on the hip flexors at the predetermined speed and through a "stretch reflex", the hip flexors are activated. This causes inhibition or reduces the hip extensors or glutes from working properly. Now a muscle imbalance has formed and forces the pelvis forward due to the tightness of the hip flexors, causing an  increase in the arch of your lower back putting you at risk for lower back pain. So, to avoid this repetitive overuse trauma, I recommend to all my athletes/patients in my practice to increase the incline a few degrees. Next time you are at your local gym use treadmills with awareness, and find a speed and incline where you feel as though you are slightly pushing the belt backward instead of the belt pulling you backward. This may be enough to stay healthy and injury-free for years to come.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Willow Bend Sports & Spine Center Participates in the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship

In early October this year I had the opportunity to watch my long-term friend and patient Tommy Pistana compete in the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship. Over the past 6 months I have been treating Tommy for Achilles Tendonosis, Low Back Pain, and Plantar Fasciosis. When he came to my clinic his body from training and racing was wrecked with scar tissue and multiple compensatory musculoskeletal problems. We worked on eliminating and breaking down the scar tissue that had arrised from over-training for years, and also getting his body properly adjusted to perform better at a high level of intensity. So with multiple treatments including Instrument Adhesion Release, and putting him in Biocorrect Orthotics (due to his over-pronation problem) he was ready to compete in October's race in Kona. The race really cannot be put into words on how inspirational and motivating it was to watch some of the best athletes in the world compete at one venue. So how did Tommy finish? He exceeded his and my expectations with a total time of 13 hours and 23minutes. The staff at Willow Bend Sports &Spine Center are proud of his accomplishment and hard work he put into this amazing day! Check out the coverage of the event in early December, 2011. Congrats Tommy!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

How Plantar Fascitis/Fasciosis effects the rest of the body...

Millions of people on a daily basis experience the painful effects of Plantar Fasicitis or Fasciosis. This condition is properly defined as acute inflammation or chronic scar tissue or adhesion of the underlying tendonis portion of the foot with symptoms usually worse in the morning as well at the end of the day. The condition is a result of gravity, body weight, and the surfaces we walk on. The first two are constantly flattening the foot down against the hard surfaces we live on. As a result the ligaments that support the bones of the foot get stretched out and our arches drop thus resulting in irritation of the Plantar Fascia. This condition causes the patient to exhibit changes in how the knees, hips, and lower back perform. First if the arches drop then we see rolling of the feet torwards the inside of your foot. This causes internal rotation or inward rotation of the knees and hips causing increasing loads of pressure on the joints themselves. This abnormal motion and loading usually is the prescursor of medial meniscus tears or acute and chronic hip pathology. Then when all the structures of the posterior kinetic chain are affected, this can effect the lower back causing pelvic dropping and increase abnormal load on various joints and discs. At Willow Bend Sports & Spine Center we use a wide array of therapies and treatments to correct the issues casued by Plantar Fascitis or Fasciosis. If you are experiencing any knee, lower back, hip, foot, or ankle issues give us a call to set up an appointment at 972 312-9310.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

How can a Titleist Golf Assessment and Chiropractic Treatment Help My Golf Swing?

In the early 1990's there were only 3 components to a player's golf game, they were instruction, the mental aspect, and equipment. When Tiger Woods hit the seen in 1996 his dynamic style of play forced instructors to replace the triangle with a hexagon style of development. The new paradigm of development consists now of basic instruction, shot making skills, mental/emotional, course management, equipment, and now most importantly physical conditioning. Chiropractic and physical training go hand in hand in developing proper body biomechanics such as range of motion and a proper kinematic sequence. Receiving ART (Active Release Technique) in conjunction with Chiropractic treatment drastically increases the performance of the neurological and musculoskeletal systems of the body in order to properly work together. This then allows the golfer to perform better and more consistent. Kinematic Sequencing is recorded through 3D motion analysis systems and allows the golf instructor and doctors to see the order of the body in relation to the golf club when it reaches peak rotation and proper flow of the swing through impact. When the Kinematic Sequence is working properly, the golfer will develop maximum power and accuracy. Chiropractic treatment and using the Titleist Assesment allows us to locate muscle weakness and imbalances that pose a threat to your golf swing and Kinematic Sequence. This then will give us insight in to what type of exercises you personally need to perform with a Titleist Certified Personal Trainer to take your game to the next level and perform more consistently. If you have any questions please contact Willow Bend Sports & Spine Center at 972-312-9310 to schedule an appointment.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

I Have Been Diagnosed With TMJ? What Is It, And How Do You Treat It At Willow Bend Sports & Spine Center?

Millions of people suffer from a widespread condition known as TMJD. This condition is properly called Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction. This joint is located just in front on your ears, and often gets mis-aligned and misdiagnosed for ear infections and pain. This is the most overused joint in the body due to giving us the ability to speak and chew our food. Just like any joint in the body it is succeptible to Arthritis, Discloctation, Ligament damage/loosness, and sprain/strain injuries. Many people with severe TMJ pain can't open their mouths to talk or chew with out a great deal of pain or pooping. Here at Willow Bend Sports & Spine Center wer assess all the surround structures such as your neck and overall posture as other causes that are contributing to your TMJ pain. Most people that exhibit TMJ either have had a trauma, or have a head forward posture. We see a high percentage of people with a head forward posture in our office, and explain that the muscles of the neck and upper torso must recruit other muscles such as the muscles of the jaw to stabilize the head and neck region. This recuitment then causes the muscles that control your TMJ to become overtime overly tight and cause TMJ pain and dysfunction. At WIllow Bend Sports & Spine Center we utilize treatments such as Type IV "Hot" Laser Treatment, INTERX Treatment, Active Release Technique(Muscle Technique).With a proper checkup with your Dentist and possible night guard for protection and increasing the space between your teeth allows for our treatments to be more successful and help reduce or eliminate your TMJD pain. If you are suffering from TMJD or need any additional information please contact our office at 972-312-9310.