I decided this spring, after taking a few years off from long-distance running, that I was ready to start training again. My sights were set on the New York City Marathon and I was excited to run and fundraise for Boston Children’s. After seeing a sports medicine doctor several years prior for ITB pain, I thought I had all the knowledge (and foam-rolling exercises) I needed to be successful and pain-free this time around. A few weeks into my training, I started experiencing ankle and knee pain. I changed running shoes, incorporated some strength training but I still couldn’t figure out why I was having persistent pain. With still a few months to go before the race, I decided to give Dr. Shea, at Precision Osteopractic Therapy a shot.
His initial assessment was thorough, the problem was identified, and I was encouraged and hopeful that we were on the right track toward healing. Our time together during each appointment was efficient; it was filled with learning and demonstrating new exercises and assessing progress over the weeks. During some sessions, the plan included dry-needling and osteopractic adjustments for ankle mobilization. Dry-needling was something I had never experienced before and he did a great job of explaining how the process worked and what to expect. This treatment relieved tightness in my hip flexor and calves and even after one session provided pain relief and better mobility. During my last session, I (thankfully) had no pain to report but noticed one ankle felt tighter than the other so we focused on mobilizing that joint to improve range of motion.
I am happy to report that I did have a successful race in New York and I have Dr. Shea and Precision Physical Therapy to thank for that! My goal when I entered the first appointment was to run a pain-free race but after many sessions together, I believe the value of his knowledge will benefit me long after this particular race – I now have an arsenal of stretches and exercises that will help me be strong and successful in the long run.
