Why Every Runner Needs a Sports Chiropractor (and When to Go)

Dr. Andrew Frost
Nov 7
3 min read

You’re halfway through your run when you feel that familiar ache in your knee. You’re used to a little pain while running, so you push through. By the next mile, it fades, and you feel proud for winning the battle of mind over body.

You think, “I probably just need to stretch more before my next run,” or maybe, “It’s time for new shoes.”

Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or just starting a couch-to-5K program, running is a skill, and like any skill, it requires proper technique, training, and recovery. It’s more than just lacing up and hitting the pavement.

Running Is Tough on Your Body

Each stride puts 2–3 times your body weight through your joints. That’s a lot of impact—and over time, small imbalances or weaknesses can turn into pain and injuries.

When your hips, knees, or ankles aren’t moving properly, something else in the chain has to compensate. That’s when runners start noticing things like shin splints, plantar fasciitis, IT band pain, or that nagging tightness in the calf that just won’t quit.

Recovery and maintenance aren’t optional, they’re part of your training plan.

How a Sports Chiropractor Helps Runners

At MVMNT Rehab in Alpharetta, we look at how your entire body moves, not just where it hurts. Using detailed movement assessments and gait analysis, we identify:

Joint restrictions limiting your stride
Muscle imbalances causing overuse
Weak links in your kinetic chain that lead to recurring injuries

From there, we create a customized plan to improve your mobility, strengthen your weak points, and optimize how your body moves with each step. The result? Better performance, fewer injuries, and faster recovery.

Common Running Injuries Chiropractors Help With

Runners often deal with the same handful of injuries, and many of them are caused by faulty movement patterns—not just overtraining. Here are a few we see most often:

1. Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome)

That dull ache along the front or inside of the shin usually means your lower legs are overworking to stabilize poor running mechanics. Chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and ankle mobility work can make a huge difference.

2. Plantar Fasciitis

When the bottom of your foot feels tight or painful first thing in the morning, your plantar fascia is inflamed. This often stems from limited ankle mobility or weak intrinsic foot muscles. A sports chiropractor can help restore proper movement and load tolerance.

3. IT Band Syndrome

Pain on the outside of the knee or thigh often comes from hip imbalances or weak glutes. We address the source by improving hip stability and tissue mobility so your IT band doesn’t have to pick up the slack.

4. Calf Strains and Achilles Tendonitis

Explosive push-off and repetitive loading can cause tight, overworked calves. We use movement-based rehab and progressive loading to build resilience and prevent flare-ups.

5. Low Back or Hip Pain

When the core and pelvis aren’t stabilizing properly, the low back and hips can take too much strain. We focus on restoring efficient movement through the spine, pelvis, and hips so your stride becomes more powerful and pain-free.

These issues often come down to one thing: your body isn’t moving efficiently. With the right treatment and corrective exercises, you can not only recover faster but also prevent the same injuries from returning.

When Should Runners See a Chiropractor?

Think back to that runner at the beginning. They think stretching or new shoes will fix the problem, but those are often just surface-level solutions.

What we often find with runners in Alpharetta is that pain is the symptom, not the problem. If you only chase pain, you’ll keep getting temporary relief, and the same issue will keep coming back.

So, when should you go?

When you’re in pain but can still run: It’s time to find the root cause before it gets worse.
When you’re in too much pain to run: Your body has hit its breaking point—it’s asking for a reset.
When you’re pain-free: This is the best time! Prevent problems before they start and boost performance while you’re healthy.

If your sport is running, or if your sport includes running, then seeing a sports chiropractor early on helps you keep doing what you love for decades to come.