My Running Improved Dramatically And Recovery After Long Runs Was Quick

In 2006 at that age of 44 I started running for the first time in my life and 8 months later I was running my first trail endurance race. Over the next few months I would run two fifty mile races and then on April 26, 2008 I couldn’t finish the Zane Grey 50 mile race due to a painful IT Band which made it almost impossible to just walk, I limped into mile 33 aid station where I dropped from the race. My IT Band had bothered me on and off throughout my running but never this bad. A week later I walked into Endurance Rehab and met Matt Kraemer for the first time. I was impressed with his knowledge of the human body and his inspection of mine led to a diagnosis of imbalances in my legs, some muscles being too tight and others too weak. I saw Matt three more times and he taught me the stretches and exercises I would need to do to balance out my legs and rotate my hips in. After two weeks of stretching myself out, just as Matt promised, my muscles were no longer tight but from then on the stretch was for maintenance. My running improved dramatically and recovery after long runs was quick. Matt kept me running while I was injured warning “stop when it hurts.” In June of 2008 I finished my first 100 mile race, no pain, no IT Band issues and the next day I was stretching limber, not tight muscles.

Unfortunately the exercises Matt prescribed for my weak hip muscles I neglected to do and in September of 08 I came down with a nagging hip injury. Several frustrating doctor visits later I returned to Matt and his words “if you don’t strengthen your hips you will be coming to see me again and again” motivated me to fully ready my body for many races to come. Knowing I hate to exercise Matt designed me a plan where I could work out three times a week for 30 minutes. In March of 09 after 8 weeks of exercise I finished my third 50 mile race and although I was undertrained and 10 pounds heavy my legs felt fresh crossing the finish line. The same story would be repeated on April 25, 2008 when I returned to finish Zane Grey 50 miler.

My running future looks bright as long as I continue the stretching and strengthening, I’m now a more efficient runner and never thought I could feel so good after running these distances.

Jeff Jones
Phoenix, Arizona

Sometimes It’s The Few Millimeters That Matter

I wanted to send a note of thanks for the work you and your group did for my seemingly never ending back and leg pain.

Recently I was traveling back on a 7 hour flight to Phoenix and realized that a few years ago I would have been ready to rip the door open as my sciatic pain in my back and leg would have been unbearable. Interestingly enough, I barely noticed the mild discomfort I was experiencing.

Off course, as you remember, it was unbearable pain that I was experiencing when I first came to see you in 2004.

After going to see Paraic at the Bicycle Ranch to correct my bike positioning, he recommended I come see you as I relayed just how painfull my back had become.

Throughout the year prior, I had gone to see any number of healthcare providers and was told I needed surgery, needed to quit triathlon, had a bulging disc, should get an epidural shot, and tried medical steroids to no avail.

I remember walking in and talking to you about my back and the whole time you were focused on my arches and how the soles were wearing on my shoes. While everyone else started and finished with my back and sciatic, you were looking for the actual cause and looking to fix the problem rather than just treat the pain.

From memory, I believe you had said your goal was to make at least a 60% improvement in how I felt. But while I smiled and nodded, I was extremely skeptical based upon what I had tried previously.

After ruling out a number of possible causes, you determined that I had a leg length differential causing hip rotation which in turn caused pressure to be put on the nerves in my back. Like a good detective, you found the root cause.

Over the next month or so we worked on some specific stretching and core exercises to target weaker areas. Bill got me dialed in on my orthotics and Whamo (Matt) took me through a series of movements designed to find some seemingly hidden flexibility.

While it wasn’t an instant fix, Nate, you were able to continue to try and pinpoint exactly what was causing my alignment to get “jacked up”. And I believe that is the technical medical term.

In the end, you uncovered the cause of the pain and then discovered what was the root cause. Amazingly it came down to orthotics and a 3 millimeter platform added in my cycling shoe NOT back surgery!

3 MILLIMETERS made the hugest difference in how I felt!!!

Since then, I have continued to compete in Ironman Triathlons and marathons with a few PR’s to boot.

As you know I no longer need to come in for ongoing treatment and I suppose its one of the drawbacks in Endurance’s business plan that you lose patients because you have fixed them up.

I am sure I will however see you and your team during my next PR at Ironman Arizona.

For anyone experience pain or dealing with ongoing injuries, I give my highest recommendation to Endurance Rehabilitation who will find “your 3 millimeters” needed to feel a whole lot better.

Regards

Derek Moore
Age Group Ironman Triatlete

I Was At The End My Wits

After a couple of years of chronic injuries I was ready to give up running and triathlons. Someone then referred me to Endurance Rehab and Nate Koch. That was my ticket out of the ongoing injuries! Nate diagnosed the problem, got down the root cause and through cutting edge treatment and counsel, brought me back to where I’m now achieving more than I ever thought possible in triathlon. I even competed at the World Champions thanks to Endurance Rehab and their great staff. I couldn’t recommend them more highly!

Lincoln Murdoch
50-54 Triathlete

A Miraculous Recovery

I am sure you don’t remember me… Len O’Toole… Cyclist… IRISH… You fixed a knee problem of mine way back … Anyway, I saw your picture on cyclingnews.com today and I had to contact you. I just wanted to congratulate you on your new venture at “Endurance Rehab”… you said you were going to go out on your own some day, I guess you did. Well Done. Looks like a great institution. If I need any ‘adjustments’ in the future… I will be sure to travel out to AZ for you to take care of me.

Right now, I am the director of the Mercy Cycling Team Elite Women’s Squad – based out of Fort Smith, Arkansas. I’ve been telling all my riders for years … if they have any physical problems to look you up in Arizona. You are a Master of your trade. You fixed me up so good that the following year I came in 10th in the US National Criterium Champs in Chicago…and ranked in the Top 10 in my category for Criterium Riders in the USA Cycling National Criterium Rankings !! Now that’s what I call a miraculous recovery – compared to the previous year when my knee issues wiped my season out completely. You fixed me up good, real good – Thank You Thank You Thank You.

Nate, best of luck in your business… and Thank you again for taking care of me.

Len O’Toole Cordova, TN

Knee Pain and My Lifelong Goal

While training for the 2007 PF Chang’s Rock n Roll marathon in Phoenix, Arizona, I began to experience significant knee pain which essentially halted my training program. After having a friend highly recommend Matt Kraemer and Endurance Rehabilitation, and figuring I had nothing to lose, I scheduled an evaluation with Matt. From my first contact with Matt and his colleagues at Endurance Rehabilitation, I witnessed only the utmost professionalism. Matt made certain I understood the cause of my knee pain and the purpose for his chosen methods of treatment. After undergoing just under six weeks of therapy at Endurance Rehabilitation, and much to my surprise, I successfully completed the marathon without so much as the slightest knee pain. I owe much thanks to Matt and his colleagues at Endurance Rehabilitation for helping me successfully achieve a lifelong goal.

Liz Barrick