For many people, running is more than exercise - running is freedom. It's transcending one's physical limitations, giving great emotional satisfaction. It is an emotional and physical triumph for the human body. For some, it is the whole world. There is nothing else but it. Humans were born to run: we have large glutes that provide strength to our hips and a wonderfully built foot that can balance ground reaction forces.
Encountering difficulties
Unfortunately, running comes with risks. Injuries occur: hip, ankle, lower back and knee. Why? Just because we're made for running doesn't mean we do it well. We also sit more than we run, and the lack of movement throughout the day cannot be made up for by running for an hour.
There are also many impacts that transfer to the foot and send forces upward through the knee and hip. With each impact of the foot against the ground, even the 7 times body weight. Even with proper running mechanics, ground reaction forces cause micro-injuries and strain on some parts of the body, leading to injury.
It is an undeniable fact that if you run, sooner or later something will start to hurt. So what can you do to minimize the pain and heal quickly? In such a situation, deep tissue laser therapy proves beneficial.
Laser therapy - a simple solution
What is laser therapy? It is the use of Infrared light to stimulate the body's cells. The process of such stimulation is called photobiomodulation.
It leads to the healing of micro-injuries, minimizes pain and reduces inflammation.
Physical activity causes inflammation. This in turn, if prolonged, causes pain. To prevent and heal from pain when it does occur, inflammation must be reduced.
Runners who have tried laser therapy have come to love it. The reasons are explained below.
Achilles tendon and calf injuries:
Tension and tendonitis often occur in these areas. Stretching these parts of the body doesn't help for long when inflammation is at the root. The laser stimulates deep circulation and reduces inflammation, restoring mobility faster. Greater mobility means you can work harder, faster, stronger and longer. Using an applicator with a massage ball also helps reach the deep structures that control foot alignment.
TFL/IT compressionBS
Eighty percent of the gluteus maximus muscle (gluteus maximus) attaches to the broad fascia (tensor fascia latae). Fascial tensions in this area can lead to overuse of the patellofemoral band, resulting in knee sprain. Inflammation and restriction of slippage there affects the system of transferring forces from the ground to the hip and throughout the body. Carla Stecco says 40% force transmission through the muscles is mediated by the fascia. Applying the laser along the hip and thigh increases mobility. Treatment with it should be performed on both sides regardless of which side hurts. Both legs must work while running.
Runner's knee
The knee is a dependent joint - it only makes the movements that the foot will allow and that the hip can control. By working on the ankle, foot and hip, we are already having a positive effect on the knee. Applying the laser to the medial adductor tendon attachments and in the back of the knee will greatly facilitate recovery. The posterior part of the knee is where the gluteal muscle and the main lymphatic drainage point for the lower limb is located. If you want to recover faster, your body must be able to remove metabolic waste through the lymphatic system.
Maximize productivity, minimize downtime
Laser therapy is a necessity in the process of regeneration and treatment of injuries, but should also be used before and after running to improve performance, minimize muscle fatigue and reduce the risk of injury.
Deep tissue laser therapy allows treatment of multiple areas in a short period of time, so it can be performed as often as needed. Laser treatment applied before a run to the calves, quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings and lower back helps prepare the tissues for optimal contraction and control, and the blood vessels dilated by it speed up the warm-up.
The treatment, performed after a run, aids recovery and prolongs metabolic processes. It will also give you a reduction in delayed muscle soreness. The faster and more effectively your body recovers, the sooner you can get back to training. The more you train by moving properly, the better you will become at running. Just make sure you apply laser treatments to the same areas before and after the race. Being proactive in taking care of fitness Physical exercise can significantly reduce the risk of injury.
Bibliography
- Perry Nickelston, Why Runners Love Laser Therapy, https://lightforcemedical.com/why-runners-love-laser-therapy/