Running is a great way to stay active and in good health. However, it can also come with injuries. It’s important to address these issues early, especially when you are a consistent runner. This blog will help you understand the common injuries that runners experience and the importance of physical therapy in staying strong and healthy so you can continue running.
Common Injuries
Runners can face injuries from repetitive movements which can lead to overuse of certain muscles or tendons. Injuries that are seen often in runners are:
- Shin Splints: Shin splints can occur when you start running longer distances, change your routine, or run uphill. It happens when the tissue along the shinbone becomes inflamed. This added pressure on the shins can also cause them to experience stress fractures, which cause the bones or tendons to split and crack.
- IT Band Syndrome: The ITB is a band of tissues that runs along the outside of the leg, from the hip down to the shin. The ITB plays a large role in stabilizing the knee so when it becomes inflamed, it can cause pain in the knee area.
- Achilles Tendinitis: The Achilles tendon is located on the back of the leg, connecting your heel and ankle with your calf muscles. Running can put extra strain and overuse on this tendon, potentially increasing the risk of a tear.
- Sprains: Running can put a lot of stress on the bones, tendons, and ligaments in your leg. Whether it’s a knee ligament or ankle sprain, these can commonly occur.
- Pulled Hamstrings: If warmed up improperly or overused, the hamstring muscles can tear, especially if the running routine intensifies.
- Plantar Fasciitis: Your feet play a huge factor in your health when running since they are at the base and bottom. They experience the most stress and impact. This occurs when the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed and running becomes painful on the feet.
Most of these injuries occur from overuse, intensifying your routine, improper warm-up/technique, or muscle strength imbalances. We are going to discuss how physical therapy Rexburg can correct these symptoms and improve whatever condition you may be facing.
Physical Therapy Treatment
Physical therapy can improve a whole range of injuries, including all of the ones discussed above. You will require specialized exercises and treatment plans depending on your unique needs, which can be developed with a physical therapist. This treatment plan can look something like this:
- Consultation and Assessment: The first thing you will do is meet with a physical therapist and go over your medical history, current condition, lifestyle, and future goals. Then they will have you perform certain movements to understand where your pain points are coming from and develop a plan from there.
- Customized Plan: This plan will cover everything from pain management to workout exercises to support devices. This can include massaging, electric stimulation, strength exercises, and braces if needed. They will also customize your timeline, as not every person’s recovery is the same.
- Post PT: After your physical therapist has directly worked with you to improve your condition, they will give you helpful tips to implement into your life to prevent reinjury as much as possible. This can include daily stretches, shoe recommendations, etc.
Conclusion
A physical therapist is equipped with the knowledge and compassion to help you overcome any injury you are facing. Get back to running and doing the things you love through physical therapy today.
