Treatment for Runners’ Injuries
Injury Prevention and Treatment
Prevention
Physical Therapists are trained to help runners – from novices to experienced road warriors – prevent injuries through:
- Proper running form
- New training methods
- Proper shoe selection
- Proper pre-and-post run stretching and exercises
We also often work with runners to develop custom plans and programs tailored to runners’ individual needs to help them run without pain and injury.
Treatment
Physical Therapists are trained to help runners who have sustained running-related injuries or are experiencing pain that is keeping them from being active through:
- Injury assessment and diagnosis
- Custom physical therapy treatment plan, including hands-on manual treatment
- Rehab exercise program
- Education on proper form and equipment to avoid reinjury
Your physical therapist will work with you to create a plan that directly addresses your injury and individual needs.
Common Runners’ Injuries
Runners can experience a wide range of pain or injury, but some injuries are more common than others, including Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis and IT Band Syndrome. If you are experiencing these symptoms, or other pain in your body, a trained physical therapist can can evaluate and diagnose the injury and get you on the road to recovery.
Plantar Fasciitis
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
- Stabbing pain in the bottom (heel) of your foot
- Pain is strongest when you first wake up
- Pain subsides as the day goes on
- Pain occurs at the beginning of exercise, gradually decreases
Achilles Tendinitis
Symptoms of Achilles Tendinitis
-
Pain and stiffness along the Achilles tendon in the morning
- Pain along the tendon or back of the heel that worsens with activity
- Severe pain the day following exercise or activity
IT Band Syndrome
Symptoms of IT Band Syndrome
- Pain on the outside of the knee
- Pain up and down the leg
- Pain when walking up stairs
- Snapping or popping at the knee