Whether you are running for general fitness, as part of training for another sport, or even for marathons, there is always a chance of injury. Practically all runners experience a running injury at some point, however, the good news is, in most cases, injuries can be prevented, or at least treated.
Common causes of running injuries
Two of the most common reasons for running injuries are doing too much, too soon, failing to give the body enough time to recover, and poor running technique:
- Any level of running is a high impact form of exercise, so it’s important not to push too hard and overload your body. As you build up your running regime, it’s important to increase your levels gradually, allowing your body to keep up with the changes in mechanical load. It takes time for your muscles and joints to acclimatise to increased impact, and when you try to do too much, too soon, this can lead to injury.
- Correct running technique is a skill that is learned over time. Wearing the wrong shoes can also increase the risk of a running injury.
Common running injuries
Some of the most frequently seen running injuries include:
- Plantar fasciitis - This is the inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament, located in the foot, between the toes and heel. This injury is commonly associated with overloading and training on hard surfaces.
- Runner’s knee - Patello femoral pain syndrome, more commonly known as runner’s knee, is often associated with long distance running, causing a centralised pain close to the kneecap.
- Patella tendinopathy - Patella tendinopathy, also known as jumper’s knee, involves damage to the patella tendon, located below the kneecap. This type of injury is usually related to long distance running.
- Shin splints - Shin splints are felt as a pain anywhere along the inner shin, stemming from stress and strain on the tibia.
How Osteopaths help
Osteopaths can help to treat existing running injuries and prevent future injuries in several ways. We take a holistic approach, focusing on the whole body rather than just the affected area. We are highly trained and knowledgeable about the human anatomy, including how the musculoskeletal system (bones, tissues, joints and muscles) are interconnected, working together to help your body achieve its optimal function.
Our approach is to find the root cause of an injury or pain that you are experiencing, rather than just the symptoms. We will use a combination of therapeutic techniques not only around the area where you are experiencing pain, but other related points. Treatment is patient centric, so our approach will be different for each person.
Some of the osteopathic techniques often used for treating runners include:
- Biomechanical assessment - We assess a patient’s gait and movement, when walking and running. This helps us to understand how the musculoskeletal system is affected when you move, and allows us to provide advice on improved technique.
- Soft-tissue massage - This technique uses deep pressure massage to help increase blood flow and to relax the muscles.
- Joint manipulation - Gentle manipulation of the joints helps to improve and increase joint mobility and range of movement.
- Exercises - We recommend stretches and exercises, as well as advise on running techniques and training, helping with injury recovery, but also prevention of future injuries.
Regular appointments with an osteopath can have many benefits, not only preventing future injury and faster recovery, but encouraging improvements in mobility, strength and technique to gain an edge over competitors.
If you are experiencing running injuries, or would like advice on avoiding future injuries or improving your technique, please feel free to contact us by calling 0121 5858 8555 (Halesowen practice) or 01902 894894 (Wombourne practice).
