Injuries are common for runners and can prevent them from running for two weeks or longer while they recover. The high rate of injuries being experienced (at least seventy percent of those who run regularly get injured at one point or another) can be mainly put down to running being a weight-bearing sport. Physiotherapy can provide effective treatment for running injuries as a physiotherapist can identify the cause of injury and tailor a specific treatment plan for you to help you get back to full fitness as soon as possible. Here are the more common issues faced by runners and how physio can aid in their healing.
Common Running Complaints
Injuries can be the result of wearing poor-quality footwear, running on uneven surfaces and not recovering properly from your previous injury. It’s helpful if you can identify problems as soon as they arise so that you can seek appropriate treatment and benefit from physiotherapy techniques. Here are some of the most common injuries experienced by runners:
- Calf Strain – This type of injury can occur quite suddenly and is experienced as a sharp pain in the calf muscle with symptoms ranging from swelling to bruising. The cause of calf strains can be attributed to many factors such as running on uneven road surfaces, running uphill or speeding up too quickly during a speed practice.
- Plantar Fasciitis – Here, runners experience pain in the sole of the foot. This is more common in those who have low or high arches of their feet. The strong fibrous tissue found in the soles has to work particularly hard to maintain a neutral arch during movement, resulting in pain around the inner heel and arch.
- Iliotibial Friction Syndrome (ITB) – ITB can be caused by weak core muscles, excessive downhill training, poor foot arch control and weak gluteal muscles. Symptoms include a sharp pain and inflammation on the outside of the knee.
A physiotherapist can use a variety of techniques to help treat and prevent running injuries. In addition to this, you can ask your physiotherapist to review your running style and training regimen and make suggestions on how you can improve your performance as well as reduce the risk of injuries in the future. Need help with your recovery? Let the highly trained physiotherapists at Cairnhill Physiotherapy help you to a full recovery. We have a qualified team providing exceptional standards in physiotherapy Auckland.