rehab

Should Runners Stretch?

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By James Gucciardi, D.C.

What we really should be asking is, what are your goals and would stretching be effective at helping you achieve them?  If you’re trying to prevent injury before activity, the research doesn’t support it.  As far as running is concerned, it isn’t an activity that requires your joints to go through a great range of motion anyway so you really aren’t in jeopardy of acutely tearing anything.  But if you’re a mixed martial artist that isn’t very flexible and someone starts cranking on your joints, you’re in trouble. So it would behoove you to stretch often to have and maintain appropriate flexibility. But you’re a runner, not a mixed martial artist, so the question begs… Read more →

Small Changes that will Make You a Better Runner

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James Gucciardi, D.C.

So you’ve been running awhile and hopefully you’ve been consistently making progress.  If you’re savvy, you’ve realized how using strength training not only improves your times, but hopefully has made you more resistant to injury too. But there is one area for improvement that rarely gets any love even though it can make a huge impact on the quality of your life.  What is it?

Learn to move efficiently and then make it a daily practice.  While this will certainly help your running, the truth is moving more efficiently will also reduce your potential for injury and simply make you feel better in your own skin with everything you do.  This article is not about the best running style.  There really is no such thing.  “But wait…I thought you’re supposed to land on your mid-foot. No, heel strike!  Mid-foot!  Heel strike!”  Less Filling; Tastes Great!  You get the idea.  Although there is no best running style, elite runners all have one thing in common…they are efficient.  Amateur runners who are often injured also have one thing in common…they’re not. Read more →

It’s Just a Blog, Get Over It!: An Introduction

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When I approached Lou a couple of weeks ago about writing a blog on the Selden Hills website and he thought it was a good idea, I was very excited for several reasons. First, it is an opportunity for Dr. James Gucciardi and me to share our knowledge and expertise regarding injuries, strengthening, rehabilitation, conditioning, etc. as it relates to running. This brings us to the second reason; assisting the Selden Hills Warriors with their running-related questions or concerns to help you recover from injury and/or become improved runners. And lastly, by doing so, it allows us to hone our skills as sports rehab doctors. It is a win-win situation for all of us because we can get a better pulse regarding what information runners find valuable and deliver that information to the group to help you all become better runners. That being said, we thought it would be a good idea to formerly introduce ourselves and tell the group a little about our background and what we do as sports chiropractors for our first blog.
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