Staying Healthy
- May 5, 2016
- 3 min read
“Is that laughter or crying?” I hear from the hallway. "It’s a bit of both” Dr. Duffy, replies back as he continues to work on loosening up my hip. Earlier this winter, I started experiencing some foot and back issues while training. I tried to let the injury heal. However, after a few months, and no positive results, I turned to the team at Bell Chiropractic and Back to Function for help. Dr. Bell has worked with numerous world class athletes and has a great wealth of knowledge about running mechanics. At Bell Chiropractic, I have been working with Dr. Mike Duffy. Dr. Duffy, has taken the time to learn from the best (Dr. Bell) and has assisted me in getting back to pain free running.
On my initial visit, Dr. Duffy and I discussed my goals as well as my current issues. Together we developed a plan that included bringing me back to health, correct my running form and strengthen all my muscles. Since starting my treatment I am once again training without pain. I still have many issues that arise throughout the week, which Dr. Duffy corrects on a weekly basis. These issues include limited range of motion in my ankles and hips as well as tightness in my shoulders. I feel that I have provided Dr. Duffy with a bit of a challenge in the sense that I am a multi-sport athlete and because of that I use a range of muscles and movements. Also, because I have very limited flexibility. On my first visit, Dr. Duffy and I had a good laugh at my legs/hamstring whopping 40 degree angle. That was was my maximum! I couldn’t raise either leg any higher than 40 degrees. It was a bit embarrassing, but also a good place to start. Since that treatment, my range of motion has increased and I am proud to say that I can raise my legs higher than 50 degrees now.
Part of the plan Dr. Duffy and I have is to strengthen all my muscles and correct my running form. This is where the team at Back to Functions comes in. Each week before my treatment with Dr. Duffy, I go to see Carly or Matt at Back to Function to strengthen the muscles that I will call on when running. Now Carly and Matt have me doing little strength exercises that focus on my feet, caves, hips and balance. Now when I say that these exercises are little, I mean that they require very little movement. However, these little exercises can be difficult and frustrating. For example, at my first appointment, Carly had me doing toe isolations. Essentially I raise my big toe while keeping my little toes on the ground. This proved to be be extremely difficult. My brain was screaming for my toe to move but it didn’t. I felt like I was breaking a sweat just trying to get my stupid big to to move. It was an extremely frustrating experience. However, I am proud to say, I have now progressed and can do toe isolations. The goal for me at Back to Function is to develop perfect running form so that I do not develop an injury and so that I am efficient in every step I take. Dr. Bell said it best in one of my sessions at Back to function, where he said, “perfect practice, makes perfect”. That is my goal, to make every swim stroke, every pedal stroke and every run stride perfect. That way, on October 8th, I will be fast at both mile 1 and mile 24.
The team at Back to Function and Bell Chiropractic have brought me back to health and continue to work with me to keep me healthy. I am extremely grateful to Dr. Duffy and the Bell Chiropractic and Back to Functions team for their hard work.
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