REHABILITATION
FOR RUNNING INJURIES

THE BEST TREATMENT FOR RUNNING INJURIES: MYOFASCIAL THERAPY AND ACTIVE RELEASE THERAPY

KNEE PAIN

Runners sometimes experience knee pain. Since running is a repetitive movement, your quadriceps muscles can become tight, altering the biomechanics of your quad muscles and patella bone. The patella (aka, your knee cap) becomes inflamed, and you start to feel pain. If you don’t address the problem early, the tendons and the fascia around the knee start to build up scar tissue. Myofascial Therapy and Active Release Therapy “break up” the scar tissue, restoring the health of the muscle and the fascia. Whala! The pain goes away, and you are back to running pain-free.

IT BAND PAIN (AKA, I.T. BAND SYNDROME)

The IT Band can often get very tight and painful in runners. It’s a big tendinous band of fascia on the outside (lateral) part of the leg from your pelvis (hip) to your knee. The IT Band stabilizes your knee. But it can get irritated and inflamed when there is too much tension in it. The tension is created by its surrounding structures: the quad muscles and the hamstrings. Myofascial Release and Active Release Therapy (ART) can break up “scar tissue” and restore pliability to the IT Band as well as the surrounding musculature, quickly relieving pain.

HAMSTRING AND CALF STRAINS

Hamstring and calf strains are less common in runners. Strains in the hamstring, if mild, usually get better quickly. However, more severe hamstring strains can take a long time to heal. Active Release Therapy and Myofascial Release are the best methods to help them heal more quickly.

TRIGGER POINT PAIN

Trigger points are small “knots” or “nodules” in muscles. Trigger points are focused areas of muscle that have become locked in contraction. They’re usually the size of a quarter or smaller, and they can disrupt muscle function, resulting in pain and tender spots within the muscle. Trigger Point Therapy is a form of Myofascial Release that eliminates the knots and restores the muscles or tendons back to proper health. Trigger points are often a sign of the overuse and fatigue of muscles.

ANKLE SPRAINS

Ankle sprains are rare in runners because they are usually associated with a rapid inversion of the ankle joint — like when twisting the ankle running off a curb or twisting because you accidentally stepped on a big rock running on dirt trails. An ankle sprain is the sprain (or excessive stretching) of the ankle ligaments. Myofascial therapy reduces inflammation and restores pliability to the stiff and injured ligaments.

Running injuries are prevalent among athletes of all levels and can significantly hinder training and performance. These injuries often arise from overuse or improper technique. Overtraining, inadequate rest, and wearing worn-out shoes can contribute to conditions like runner's knee, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis. To minimize the risk of injuries, it is essential to gradually increase mileage, choose appropriate footwear, and incorporate a comprehensive training regimen that includes stretching, strength training, and adequate rest. By addressing these factors, runners can enhance their overall health and longevity in the sport.

Some of the common running injuries among athletes are: