Chiropractic Health & Wellness Blog
The Graston Technique: What It Is and Why We Use It
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The Graston Technique: What It Is and Why We Use It
Here at Lyn Lake Chiropractic, our goal is to help all of our Minneapolis patients achieve maximum health and wellness. That’s why we pride ourselves on offering a variety of different techniques designed to both prevent and treat musculoskeletal issues. And one that we use regularly is the Graston Technique.
What Is the Graston Technique?
The Graston Technique is a method which involves using stainless steel instruments to help effectively reach scar tissue or other soft tissue adhesions and get them to release, providing you with greater movement and less pain. The goal of the Graston Technique is to resolve both the symptoms and the cause of the issue, which means short and long-term relief.
Chiropractors aren’t the only ones that use the Graston Technique either. It is also commonly used by physical therapists,
Quick read more or view full article
athletic trainers, and other types of therapists and medical professionals in a number of different fields. What makes this technique so desirable to health care workers around the world?
Why Do We Use It?
Well, the reason we use the Graston Technique at Lyn Lake Chiropractic is simple: It works. There have been numerous research studies on this particular method of treatment and many have found extremely positive results.
For instance, one study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics involved 10 subjects with plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis, foot pain is diagnosed when the band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot becomes inflamed, resulting in heel pain—especially first thing in the morning. However, after just a few treatment sessions using the Graston Technique and doing some in-home stretches, the participants experienced less pain and greater functionality.
Additionally, this technique is good for sports-related injuries. For example, a University of Wisconsin study published in the Journal of Undergraduate Kinesiology Research involved 14 athletes and assessed the range of motion in their shoulders before, during, and after engaging in care with the Graston Technique. Based on the results, the researchers concluded that this particular technique helped improve shoulder motion, which makes it a great addition to the standard stretching and strengthening training programs.
To find out if the Graston Technique can help you ease your pain or discomfort, call our Minneapolis chiropractic office today and schedule an appointment 612-879-8000. We’ll do what we can to get you the relief you deserve!
Plantar fasciitis
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Plantar fasciitis is a pain on the bottom of the foot. It is a condition that normally does not respond well to traditional methods of treatment. It causes muscular dysfunction and sharp pain. Very common injury for runners.
The plantar fascia is a band of fibers which runs from the heel bone to base of the toes. Plantar Fasciitis occurs when these tissues are irritated and become inflamed.
Plantar fasciitis can be caused by any number of things from too much standing, wearing unpadded shoes on hard ground, or repetitive stress to a diet low in vitamin C, being overweight, or an increase in activity among other things.
Chiropractic care helps in treating plantar fasciitis. Lyn Lake Chiropractic, Official Chiropractor of the Twin Cities Marathon has been treating running injuries more more than 13 years with awesome success. Our Minneapolis Chiropractor enjoys treating runners beacsue they are runners. Lyn Lake Chiropractic offer so many different treatments
Quick read more or view full article
that help keep runners and athletes.
Some of the many different treatments we offer:
Active Release Technique is a patented, active hands-on soft tissue treatment with a movement based massage-stretching technique that treats dysfunctions within muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves.
Graston Technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively detect and treat scar tissue, adhesions, and restrictions that affect normal function. Graston is used to break down the scar tissue so it can be absorbed by the body.
Therapeutic Ultrasound is a form of deep therapy created by sound waves. When applied to soft tissues and joints, the sound waves are a form of micro-massage that helps reduce swelling, reduce scar tissue, increase blood flow, and decrease pain, stiffness, and spasms leading to faster healing times.
Cold Laser Therapy or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to interact with tissues and is thought to help accelerate the healing process. It can stimulate all cell types including muscle, ligament, cartilage, nerves, and bone allowing a number of conditions to be treated.
Kinesiology Tape is a type of tape that uses a bio-mechanical lifting mechanism to lift the skin increasing the blood flow around the muscle, facilitating the natural healing process. It is often used with athletes as a way to help joint stability without inhibiting normal range of motion of the joint or muscle being treated. Lyn Lake Chiropractic is Certified Rock Tape Doc Clinic!
Lyn Lake Chiropractic Specializes in treating Sports Injuries. We work with kids, weekend athletes, high school and college athletes, and pro athletes. Anyone that is active can end up with a sports injury that would benefit from being treated by a sports chiropractic clinic.
Sports Injuries
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Plantar fasciitis is a pain on the bottom of the foot. It is a condition that normally does not respond well to traditional methods of treatment. It causes muscular dysfunction and sharp pain. Very common injury for runners.
The plantar fascia is a band of fibers which runs from the heel bone to base of the toes. Plantar Fasciitis occurs when these tissues are irritated and become inflamed.
Plantar fasciitis can be caused by any number of things from too much standing, wearing unpadded shoes on hard ground, or repetitive stress to a diet low in vitamin C, being overweight, or an increase in activity among other things.
Chiropractic care helps in treating plantar fasciitis. Lyn Lake Chiropractic, Official Chiropractor of the Twin Cities Marathon has been treating running injuries more more than 13 years with awesome success. Our Minneapolis Chiropractor enjoys treating runners beacsue they are runners. Lyn Lake Chiropractic offer so many different treatments
Quick read more or view full article
that help keep runners and athletes.
Some of the many different treatments we offer:
Active Release Technique is a patented, active hands-on soft tissue treatment with a movement based massage-stretching technique that treats dysfunctions within muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves.
Graston Technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively detect and treat scar tissue, adhesions, and restrictions that affect normal function. Graston is used to break down the scar tissue so it can be absorbed by the body.
Therapeutic Ultrasound is a form of deep therapy created by sound waves. When applied to soft tissues and joints, the sound waves are a form of micro-massage that helps reduce swelling, reduce scar tissue, increase blood flow, and decrease pain, stiffness, and spasms leading to faster healing times.
Cold Laser Therapy or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to interact with tissues and is thought to help accelerate the healing process. It can stimulate all cell types including muscle, ligament, cartilage, nerves, and bone allowing a number of conditions to be treated.
Kinesiology Tape is a type of tape that uses a bio-mechanical lifting mechanism to lift the skin increasing the blood flow around the muscle, facilitating the natural healing process. It is often used with athletes as a way to help joint stability without inhibiting normal range of motion of the joint or muscle being treated. Lyn Lake Chiropractic is Certified Rock Tape Doc Clinic!
Lyn Lake Chiropractic Specializes in treating Sports Injuries. We work with kids, weekend athletes, high school and college athletes, and pro athletes. Anyone that is active can end up with a sports injury that would benefit from being treated by a sports chiropractic clinic.
Sports chiropractic is a natural health care...
Many amateur and professional athletes are sidelined with injuries that could be avoided. Others sit it out on the bench because their injury does not respond to ordinary treatment. Still, others are playing, but at less than peak efficiency, simply because their structural system is not balance. Progressive coaches, athletes, and doctors are realizing that pain killing drugs are not the answer. They merely cover up the symptoms, deceiving the athlete into actions which could make the injury more serious and longer lasting.
Lyn Lake Chiropractic's approach to health closely relates to the needs of the sports participant. Most sports involve body contact, fast Quick read more or view full article starts and stops, and body positioning that places an unusual amount of strain on the back and structural system. Lyn Lake Chiropractic considers a person as an integrated being, giving special attention to the spine, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.
Sports chiropractic is a natural health care method that stresses the importance of keeping all the systems of the body functioning efficiently so the player enjoys peak performance, experiences a minimum injury risk, and has fast recuperative powers.
Many world class and Olympic athletes, as well as professional stars and teams, have retained sports chiropractors to provide care. Joe Montana, Nolan Ryan, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jubbar, and Carl Lewis all utilize chiropractic care. The Players Association of the NFL has officially incorporated sports chiropractors as a regular part of care. Chiropractors have been selected as attending doctors at the Olympic Games and at national and world championships in track and field, cycling, volleyball, powerlifting, aerobics, and triathlons. Lyn Lake Chiropractic will not only help get you out of pain, but will try to find the cause so your symptoms don't return.
"Lifting weights and seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis has made me a better golfer. I've been going to a chiropractor for as long as I can remember. It's as important to my training as practicing my swing." – Tiger Woods.
Running injuries, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, and foot pain can be treated with chiropractic.
Shin Splints
This running injury often causes pain along either side of the lower leg. Symptoms vary greatly from dull tightness to a painful area along the lower leg. Injuries have a higher incidence of occurrence in athletes starting a new running or aerobic program.
Achilles Tendonitis
Inflammation of the tendon that connects the calf muscle to the heel. Can be stiff at the beginning of a run and feel better during the workout. Pain varies from dull ache to acute, knife-like pain. Which can cause pain with Achilles Tendonitis while running or walking.
Stress Fracture
Usually located in either the lower leg (tibia or fibula) or one of the metatarsals (toes), the 2nd and 3rd toes being the most common. This type of running injury can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages and can be confused with shin splints.
Runners Knee
Knee Pain
Usual symptoms of this running injury include pain directly under the kneecap, or the surrounding area. Climbing or descending stairs may cause knee pain. Usually the runners knee - running injury responds well our minneapolis chiropractor.
Heel Pain - Arch Pain - Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis
Foot Pain
Common type of running injury - varies from a slight tightness in the bottom of the foot to an intense heel pain that may worsen when getting out of bed in the morning and then lessen after a few steps. The pain is often reproduced if the toes are dorsiflexed (pulled up). An X-ray will sometimes reveal the running injury, known as plantar fasciitis, (foot pain) as a "heel spur" on the bottom of the heel. This running injury is usually due to an over pronation of the foot and ankle while walking and running.
With plantar fasciitis, the pain is more severe when running on the balls of the feet. If pain is more intense on heel contact, a condition called Heel Spur Syndrome could be present. Heel Spurs result from excessive ossification (bone formation) due to the constant pulling of the fascia at the point where the fascia inserts on the bottom of the heel, this can be extremely painful. Minneapolis Chiropractors can help with this issue with adjusting your feet, ankle and extremities, massage, ultrasound, laser, taping. Our Lyn Lake Chiropractic Chiropractors would be glad to assess your shoes, running shoes or sport shoes and suggest the proper shoe your body needs to help correct the problem.
Ilio-Tibial Band Syndrome
These running injuries can manifest themselves anywhere along the entire length of this highly fibrous connective tissue running from the top of the hip to just below the knee. At its worst, pain can be very intense at either the outside of the hip to the outside of the knee. A complete biomechanical evaluation, foot to hip, is needed to diagnose the problem and prevent further running injuries. Stretching can aggravate running injuries of this type.
Want to stay up to date on the best tips to avoid running injuries?
Call Lyn Lake Chiropractic. Read Less
Sports Injuries and Running Injuries
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Lyn Lake Chiropractic Chiropractors Specialize in Treating Athletes of All Levels:
Lyn Lake Chiropractic Specializes in treating Sports Injuries. They work with kids, weekend athletes, high school and college athletes, and pro athletes. Anyone that is active can end up with a sports injury that would benefit from being treated by a sports Minneapolis chiropractic clinic.
Many amateur and professional athletes are sidelined with injuries that could be avoided. Others sit it out on the bench because their injury does not respond to ordinary treatment. Still, others are playing, but at less than peak efficiency, simply because their structural system is not balance. Progressive coaches, athletes, and doctors are realizing that pain killing drugs are not the answer. They merely cover up the symptoms, deceiving the athlete into actions which could make the injury more serious and longer lasting.
Lyn Lake Chiropractic's approach to health closely relates to the needs Quick read more or view full article of the sports participant. Most sports involve body contact, fast starts and stops, and body positioning that places an unusual amount of strain on the back and structural system. Lyn Lake Chiropractic considers a person as an integrated being, giving special attention to the spine, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.
Sports chiropractic is a natural health care method that stresses the importance of keeping all the systems of the body functioning efficiently so the player enjoys peak performance, experiences a minimum injury risk, and has fast recuperative powers.
Many world class and Olympic athletes, as well as professional stars and teams, have retained sports chiropractors to provide care. Joe Montana, Nolan Ryan, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jubbar, and Carl Lewis all utilize chiropractic care. The Players Association of the NFL has officially incorporated sports chiropractors as a regular part of care. Chiropractors have been selected as attending doctors at the Olympic Games and at national and world championships in track and field, cycling, volleyball, powerlifting, aerobics, and triathlons. Lyn Lake Chiropractic will not only help get you out of pain, but will try to find the cause so your symptoms don't return.
"Lifting weights and seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis has made me a better golfer. I've been going to a chiropractor for as long as I can remember. It's as important to my training as practicing my swing." – Tiger Woods.
Running injuries, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, and foot pain can be treated with chiropractic.
Shin Splints
This running injury often causes pain along either side of the lower leg. Symptoms vary greatly from dull tightness to a painful area along the lower leg. Injuries have a higher incidence of occurrence in athletes starting a new running or aerobic program.
Achilles Tendonitis
Inflammation of the tendon that connects the calf muscle to the heel. Can be stiff at the beginning of a run and feel better during the workout. Pain varies from dull ache to acute, knife-like pain. Which can cause pain with Achilles Tendonitis while running or walking.
Stress Fracture
Usually located in either the lower leg (tibia or fibula) or one of the metatarsals (toes), the 2nd and 3rd toes being the most common. This type of running injury can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages and can be confused with shin splints.
Runners Knee
Knee Pain
Usual symptoms of this running injury include pain directly under the kneecap, or the surrounding area. Climbing or descending stairs may cause knee pain. Usually the runners knee - running injury responds well our minneapolis chiropractor.
Heel Pain - Arch Pain - Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis
Foot Pain
Common type of running injury - varies from a slight tightness in the bottom of the foot to an intense heel pain that may worsen when getting out of bed in the morning and then lessen after a few steps. The pain is often reproduced if the toes are dorsiflexed (pulled up). An X-ray will sometimes reveal the running injury, known as plantar fasciitis, (foot pain) as a "heel spur" on the bottom of the heel. This running injury is usually due to an over pronation of the foot and ankle while walking and running.
With plantar fasciitis, the pain is more severe when running on the balls of the feet. If pain is more intense on heel contact, a condition called Heel Spur Syndrome could be present. Heel Spurs result from excessive ossification (bone formation) due to the constant pulling of the fascia at the point where the fascia inserts on the bottom of the heel, this can be extremely painful. Minneapolis Chiropractors can help with this issue with adjusting your feet, ankle and extremities, massage, ultrasound, laser, taping. Our Lyn Lake Chiropractic Chiropractors would be glad to assess your shoes, running shoes or sport shoes and suggest the proper shoe your body needs to help correct the problem.
Ilio-Tibial Band Syndrome
These running injuries can manifest themselves anywhere along the entire length of this highly fibrous connective tissue running from the top of the hip to just below the knee. At its worst, pain can be very intense at either the outside of the hip to the outside of the knee. A complete biomechanical evaluation, foot to hip, is needed to diagnose the problem and prevent further running injuries. Stretching can aggravate running injuries of this type.
Want to stay up to date on the best tips to avoid running injuries?
Call Lyn Lake Chiropractic. Read Less
Running Injury, Lyn Lake Chiropractic
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With the Twin Cities Marathon getting close - running is an activity that picks up in popularity. It’s a great way to boost cardiovascular health. However, it can also place a lot of stress on the musculoskeletal structure of your body.
Lyn Lake Chiropractic often sees improper footwear and over-training as common causes for running injuries, along with misalignment in the hips and pelvis. If you think you’ve incurred one of the injuries described below, consult your chiropractor or Lyn Lake Chiropractic.
You may need to suspend or reduce your running routine until the problem is healed. You can help lessen pain and inflammation of these injuries by applying ice to the affected areas for ten minutes every two hours. Here are the most common problems associated with running:
1. Plantar fasciitis
Is a repetitive strain of the plantar fascia that leads to painful inflammation of Quick read more or view full article this tissue located at the bottom of your feet. The pain is typically worse in the morning, and then tends to ease as the day goes on. What causes it? - Running puts an increased mechanical load on the arch of your foot. If your arch is not properly positioned, or your muscles leading to the foot are too tight, you may be adding abnormal stress.
What can you do? - Besides ice therapy and adjusting your running routine, treatments may also include adjusting you feet, ankles hips and lower back. Extra Treatment - Ultrasound, Laser Therapy, GameReady Ice Compression Therapy, ART, Graston, Kinseio Taping myofascial stripping techniques used to the bottom of your feet. Our Minneapolis chiropractors at Lyn Lake Chiropractic treat runners daily and have great success.
2. Shin splints
Pain or tenderness along the front of the shin where your tibialis muscles attach to your lower leg. The pain is usually sharp when you’re running and often feels achy while you’re at rest. What causes it? - Tendons of the tibialis muscles wrap around the arch of your foot, helping to support it. When the arches experience excessive loads, these tendons are placed under strain. When this happens, your muscles pull away from their attachments to the shin bone. Improper shoes, running on hard surfaces and over-pronation of the feet may aggravate this condition. What can you do? - Avoid running on concrete surfaces. Have our Minneapolis chiropractors at Lyn Lake Chiropractic check the mobility and alignment of the bones in your feet and ankles. If needed get the treatment you need either at Lyn Lake Chiropractic, Sports chiropractor, Sports Medical clinic.
If over-pronation is detected, you may need different running shoes or orthotics. The chiropractors at our clinic will do a free gait analysis to make sure your in the right support shoes. Once your pain is reduced, regular stretching of the muscles in your lower legs can help stop future problems.
3. Runner's knee pain (chondromalacia patella)
Knee pain felt under the kneecap, accompanied by a grinding or popping noise when bending the knee. You may also notice swelling and redness. What causes it? - Improper positioning of the patella over the knee joint. This triggers your kneecap to excessively rub against the surface of your leg bones, leading to repetitive wear and tear of the cartilage and recurring inflammation. Improper knee alignment is commonly caused by instability of the feet or pelvis. Tightness or imbalance in the quadriceps muscles may also cause symptoms. What can you do? - Stop running and get chiropractic advice. Have our Minneapolis chiropractors at Lyn Lake Chiropractic check the alignment of your feet and pelvis. Misalignment in the feet may require orthotics and imbalance in the pelvis may be helped with chiropractic adjustments.
When pain subsides, you may try strengthening the vastus medialis obliquus muscle - one of the quadriceps muscles of your thigh - to prevent this problem from returning.
4. Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome
Tenderness and inflammation at the outside of the knee where the iliotibial band crosses the knee joint. The pain usually starts while running and can intensify as your run progresses. Walking on hilly surfaces or using stairs can make the symptoms worse. What causes it? - Anything that creates tightness in your IT band. The result is likely friction, pain and inflammation. Fallen arches are often responsible. This condition causes the lower leg to rotate inward upon a heel strike. This pre-stretches tissue and makes it vulnerable to excessive strain. Pelvic imbalances or restrictions may also contribute to this syndrome. What can you do?- Avoid running on hills, stretch and ice after your run if you feel pain and rest. Have a chiropractor check your pelvis and your feet for imbalances. Although extremely painful, massaging the outside part of the leg may also help reduce the tightness and soreness, Ultrasound, Laser tx., Active Release Techniques (ART) and adjusting your hips, knees, ankle and feet if needed. Once the pain is manageable, stretching the tensor fascia lata muscle, located in your thigh, as well as the gluteal muscles may help halt the return of this syndrome.
Alignment is the key to avoid most running injuries. Be sure to have your chiropractor check your alignment, it's just making sure the biomechanics are working together. Correcting the problem early may help prevent a more painful situation from happening down the road.
Disclaimer: Information contained in this Topic is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Read Less
Lyn Lake Chiropractic adjusting during pregnancy
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Studies have found that about half of all expectant mothers develop low back pain, hip pain at some point during their pregnancies. This is especially true during the third trimester when the baby's body gains the most weight. Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and even prevent the pain and discomfort frequently experienced in pregnancy, and creates an environment Quick read more or view full article for an easier, safer delivery. Our Minneapolis chiropractors at Lyn Lake Chiropractic have not only the extensive training but has the personal experience with adjusting during pregnancy.
It is one safe and effective way to help the spine and pelvis cope with the rapid increase in physical stress by restoring a state of balance. In fact, most women have found that chiropractic care helped them avoid the use of pain medications during their pregnancy, and studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments help to reduce time in labor.
Lyn Lake Chiropractic should be your partner for a healthy pregnancy. We can provide adjustments, as well as offer nutritional, ergonomic and exercise advice to help address your special needs.
Chiropractic tips for pregnant women:
Be sure to get adjusted regularly. Chiropractic care is important to help maintain a healthy skeletal structure and nervous system function throughout a pregnancy and childbirth.
* Do some gentle exercise each day. Walking, swimming, or stationary cycling are relatively safe cardiovascular exercises for pregnant women.
* Avoid any activities that involve jerking or bouncing movements.
** Stop exercise immediately if you notice any unusual symptom, such as nausea, dizziness or weakness.
* Wear flat shoes with arch supports. Your feet become more susceptible to injury during pregnancy, partially due to a rapidly increasing body weight, but also because the ligaments that support the feet become more lax. Some patients feel the have daily plantar fasciitis pain.
* When picking up children, bend from the knees, not the waist. Your low back is much more prone to injury during pregnancy.
.* Take a prenatal vitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day; 800 micrograms is even better. Folic acid has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of neural tube defects in a developing fetus. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking any vitamin or herbal supplement to make sure it's safe for you and the baby.
My wife had the low back pain issues with all 3 little girls. We noticed once a week in her third trimester helped a great deal. Our O.B told us he was amazed after each birth that the labor went really smooth and he felt the adjustments helped her hips to be relaxed allowing the birth canal evenly relaxed, that’s all the research I needed. Getting adjusted does help and I continue to have patients that do get adjusted during their pregnancies tell me the same thing. That the birthing process was smooth and less stress on the mother and baby. Give Lyn Lake Chiropractic a call for a consultation. Read Less
Plantar Fasciitis, Lyn Lake Chiropractic helps
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What cause Plantar Fasciitis? Most runners have seem to at one time or another complain of feet/foot pain.
What causes Plantar Fasciitis is not well understood. It probably develops as the result of repeated small tears in the plantar fascia (bottom of your foot) When you walk, your plantar fascia stretches as your foot strikes the ground. If the plantar fascia is strained by the way you walk or run the repeated stress, it can become weak, swollen, and irritated inflamed and it can hurt when you stand, run or walk.
Conditions or activities that may lead to pain on bottom of your foot. Factors that affect how the feet work (biomechanical factors). These include abnormal inward twisting or rolling of the foot, pronation high arches, flat feet, tight calf muscles, or tight tendons at the back of the heel (Achilles tendons). Excessive pronation Quick read more or view full article is a common cause of plantar fasciitis.
The classic symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain when you take your first steps after getting out of bed or after sitting for a long period of time. You may also have:
Treatment for plantar fasciitis at Lyn Lake Chiropractic by our minneapolis chiropractor:
We also like to do a gait analysis to make sure your in the correct running shoes if your a runner.
The minneapolis chiropractors and being avid runners, we have had to deal with foot pain from time to time. But with the proper treatment we seem to continue running marathons. Healing time always depends on how long you had the pain and if your aggressive in your treatment. If you don't call Lyn Lake Chiropracic please seek medical advice right away when you start having ( foot pain )these symptoms. Rest is always the best advice, but most runners don't feel they have time not to run and want to heal fast. Call us at 612-879-8000 Lyn Lake Chiropractic located in uptown minneapolis. Read Less