CHI Running

There are many benefits to running but it’s an activity can potentially lead to injury and muscle strain. Many runners perform a teeter-totter balancing act as they strive to put on more miles, quicken their pace, but also seek to limit pain throughout their training. Runners tend to experience discomfort and injury to their hips, ankles, shin, just to name a few.

A new way to run

CHI Running is a technique that trains the body to perform in a manner that can lessen pain and joint impact, as well as continue to move at fast and effortless pace. The foundation of CHI Running comes from Tai Chi, the popular Chinese martial art. Tai Chi’s emphasis on creating energy, or chi, that is recognized as the life energy that flows throughout our bodies. The goal is staying relaxed, calm and having a controlled and powerful movement, which are the same concepts that feed into the sport of running.

Chi Running teaches and trains the body on an optimal running posture and relaxation which allows runners to seemingly “glide” over the pavement. In traditional running movements, runners tend to land on their toes and strike the pavement mid-foot. Chi Running offers reduced stress on joints and muscles and possibly reduce painful injuries.

CHI Running for physical therapy

Here at Spooner, we use CHI Running as a way to educate our patients on a new movement technique to help them feel better and possibly avoid injury. Runners can run on a treadmill or take advantage of Arizona’s beautiful outdoor weather for real-time running instruction.

When instructing patients on CHI Running techniques, we will film the runner so they can see their form which allows for adjustment or corrections to form. Runners experience the efficiency offered by CHI Running in their first training session.Pertinent exercises and stretches for runners are also provided do on their own in order to help improve their running mechanics.

The benefits of CHI Running

Runners experience enhanced relaxation through gravity (free energy) and the force of the oncoming road helping themdevelop a rearward stride. The Chi Runner will form a movement technique of gliding over the ground which supportssaving precious energy and limiting the impact throughout all the joints.

Patients are amazed at the difference they experience as their runs become more efficient by being able to increase speed and reducing their run time. They can also avoid walking during their run, and experience little to no pain from the start to finish. Chi Running has help patients get back to running after experiencing aches and pains such as hamstring pain, bunions, low back pain, knee pain, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, Achilles tendonitis and calf muscle strain, and much more.

Are you interested in learning how to transform your running practice into something completely enjoyable, holistic and pain-free? See why CHI Runners become addicted to the practice. Contact Spooner today to learn more.

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