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Find the Root Cause of Chronic Running Injuries
From my heart to a runner’s heart — your body isn’t broken. It’s protecting you. Let’s discover what it’s guarding so you can run free again. As runners, we know what it’s like when our body holds us back. Chiropractors may say a joint is “out.” Physical therapists might point to strength or mobility problems. Massage therapists may find trigger points and fascial restrictions. Sometimes those treatments help — for a little while. But if the same joint keeps slipping “out,” the same muscle keeps locking up, or the imbalances keep returning, even after massage, dry needling, stretching, or strength work, there’s usually a deeper reason.
What I’ve Learned in 40 Years
Your body isn’t random. The pain, spasm, or tightness is a protective response. Your system is doing the best it can to guard something more vital than the symptom area.
What the Body Protects
- The heart
- The lungs
- The liver and kidneys
- The colon
- The major arteries and veins
- Defense against infection and toxicity
Two Simple Examples
If someone arrives with severe abdominal spasms, you could work endlessly on the tight muscles. But if the appendix is inflamed, massage won’t fix it — the body is guarding the appendix. Or if there’s upper back pain, jaw tension, and arm numbness, addressing muscles and joints might miss the truth: the body could be signaling a heart issue. The body knows vital organs matter more than muscles — and it will use muscles and joints to protect them.
My Story: Calf Spasms and the Real Cause
At 37, after years of running 70–90 miles a week, my calf locked up so badly I couldn’t run more than five minutes. For eight months I tried everything — massage, stretching, orthotics, PT, rest. Nothing worked. Then an Integrative Manual Therapist performed myofascial mapping and found the true issue: an aorta problem. Not a medical emergency, but enough that my body was committed to protecting my heart. The calf spasm wasn’t the problem — it was the protection. After two hours of IMT treatment, I tested my running: thirty minutes, pain-free. The spasm never returned. Once the primary root cause is addressed, the body no longer needs to protect — and performance comes back.
Runners Who Got Their Seasons Back
- Middle school runner: Out the entire season with knee pain. Root cause in the right colon + one key diet shift → PR that season. “I could have never done it without you.”
- High school runner: Severe hip pain, couldn’t run more than one minute. Similar right-colon root cause → back to racing in a week.
- College runner: Groin/hip pain, told to quit. Found colon + abdominal vein issues → returned to training and set a PR.
- Coach/runner: IT band knee pain. One treatment + specific dietary changes; gait improved immediately on video.
Why This Matters
Chronic injuries can steal seasons, careers, and joy. When we address the 1° Root Cause, you get your stride — and your life — back. This can be the difference between years of struggle and unlocking your best races.
Running isn’t just exercise. For us runners — running is life.
Ready to Get Your Running Life Back?
You don’t have to live with pain, repeat injuries, or the fear that your running days are behind you. With integrative manual therapy and myofascial mapping, we can:
- Find and resolve your primary root cause
- Free your body from unnecessary protection patterns
- Restore running
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