Journal
Running injuries: when to see a physiotherapist
5 minute read. Written by the team at Back in Health, Kelowna.
In short
See a physiotherapist when a running pain changes how you run, is still there the morning after, or has not settled after two weeks of easier training. Most running injuries are load problems, too much too soon, so the fix is usually an adjusted training plan plus targeted strength work rather than complete rest. Massage helps with recovery and tight calves and hips alongside that, not instead of it.
The usual suspects
Most running injuries fall into a handful of patterns: pain along the inside of the shin, pain around or behind the kneecap, pain on the outside of the knee, Achilles pain, and heel pain that is worst for the first steps in the morning. Each has a typical cause, and almost all of them come back to how much load the tissue has been asked to take compared with what it is ready for.
That is why a jump in mileage, a new hill block on Knox Mountain or a switch to a different shoe so often comes a few weeks before the pain.
When it is time to book
A niggle that fades as you warm up and is gone the next day can usually be managed by easing off. Book an assessment if the pain makes you change your stride, is worse the morning after a run, keeps you up at night, or has not improved after two weeks of lighter training. Sharp, pinpoint bone pain that gets worse with every run needs prompt assessment, because stress fractures should not be run through.
What a physiotherapy assessment looks at
Your physiotherapist will ask about your recent training, then test strength, range of motion and how you load the painful area, often including a single-leg squat or hop. The plan that comes out of it usually keeps you moving: a modified running schedule, specific strength work for the calf, hip or quads, and a clear way to build back up.
Physiotherapy is at our Kirschner Road clinic, no referral needed in BC.
Where massage and shockwave fit
Registered massage therapy is useful for the tight calves, hips and IT band area that come with higher mileage, and for recovery around a race. It works best alongside a load plan rather than as the only treatment. For a stubborn Achilles or plantar heel problem that has not responded to a few months of exercise, shockwave therapy is another option worth discussing.
Key points
- Most running injuries are load problems, not bad luck
- Book if it changes your stride, lingers the next morning or lasts two weeks
- Expect a modified plan and strength work, not just rest
- Pinpoint bone pain that worsens each run needs prompt assessment
General information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. If something is getting worse, or you are unsure whether it is right for you, speak to a clinician.