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What You Should Know About Running Injuries

17 October 2022 by Sasha Meyer

Whether you run competitively or just for fun, the stress on your weight-bearing muscles and joints can make you vulnerable to injuries. Fortunately, a sports injury treatment center or physical therapist can help you overcome or even prevent such injuries. Take a look at some important points about running injuries and their remedies.

Common Injuries That Affect Runners

Running injuries may occur because you have driven your body too hard, because of a flaw in your running technique, or both. One of the most common issues, runner's knee, involves damage to the cartilage within the knee joint. You can also develop painful stress fractures or shin splints in your leg bones.

Other running injuries affect overburdened muscles and connective tissues. For instance, a strained Achilles tendon can leave you with stiffness between the calf and the heel, while a pulled muscle can occur anywhere in the legs. Ankle ligaments stretched beyond their limits can produce the pain and swelling of a sprained ankle.

Running Injury Rehabilitation Strategies

A sports injury physical therapy specialist can evaluate your symptoms, determine the exact type and severity of your running injury, and then recommend strategies to rehabilitate that injury. Immediate care for acute symptoms may involve rest, ice, elevation, and compression of the injury site until pain and swelling subside.

After you've gotten over your acute symptoms, you may receive an exercise plan to help your injury heal. Squats can help rebuild strength in injured muscles while also balancing the strength of each leg, which may help you run with a more symmetrical technique. Side lunges can improve your hip mobility.

Steps to Prevent Future Running Injuries

Physical therapy exercises that relax and loosen your muscles and connective tissues can do more than just help you get over a running injury. Stretches and related exercises can also make you less prone to overuse injuries while running. Regular strength training can also reduce your risk of future running injuries.

Your choice of footwear can play a major role in helping you avoid running injuries by ensuring proper balance and support. Ask your physical therapist to evaluate your feet, musculoskeletal alignment, posture, and fitness. This data can help you select the proper running shoes for optimal performance and protection.

You don't have to let an injury put an end to your running routine or limit your ability to compete in sports activities. Ask your primary care physician for a referral to a local sports injury clinic so you can get the physical rehabilitation and preventative guidance you need.

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