For some people, running is a leisurely form of stress relief and exercise. For others it can be an obsession.
Regardless of the intensity level, the impact on one’s joints and other body parts should never be overlooked. When it leads to an injury, physical therapy can be an excellent way to recover and get back on the road.
“People run for a variety of reasons,” said Dr. Karyn Staples, PT, PhD, NCPT of ProHealth Physical Therapy and Pilates Studio in Peachtree City. “It’s an easy form of fitness, to get the heart rate up. You just need a pair of running shoes and the ability to go outside.”
Injuries from running can range from plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis in the feet and ankles to knee strain or hip strain a little bit higher up the leg. Many of these problems stem from impact or overuse, according to Staples. Appropriate physical therapy will include a look at the quality of someone’s running movement and how their structural alignment and posture might affect the way they get their legs to move.
“Some people run in the same pair of shoes too long,” said Staples. “Having the right shoes for your body is important, along with the terrain you are running on and how many miles you do on average. I recommend that people run about 20 miles a week; it’s a good number that is not too hard on the joints. There are other challenges when someone is training for a marathon and has to run more than that.”
Treating runners at ProHealth involves a whole-body approach, making sure the pain in the affected area is not being exacerbated due to weaknesses elsewhere in the body. It includes a video running analysis that allows the team and the patient to examine the problem more closely, even in slow motion.
“We are looking to help improve tissue mobility, tissue extensibility, tissue tolerance – all of those things to be able to have the person’s pain levels decrease,” she said. “But the larger thing is really looking at the mechanics or biomechanics of running as it relates to that individual and what is the best for his or her body to be able to do.”
Recently a 15-year-old patient who is a member of a local cross-country team came to ProHealth seeking assistance with chronic shin splints. Dealing with an athlete who is still growing while also logging plenty of miles each week, the task was to design a specific program to regain strength and flexibility without causing further problems for the affected tissue and bones. It required a combination of ProHealth’s own Pilates-based exercise program along with manual therapy and a thorough examination of running mechanics as well as running program management.
Often runners will let some aches and pains go unaddressed for periods of time, thinking they will get better, only to encounter other hurts. They run through the pain until they simply cannot do it any longer, and treatment is sought as a last resort so they can get back out there.
“Something could get fixed in just a few visits if somebody comes in early on in symptoms, but if somebody’s been dealing with something for months, it might be a couple months of treatment just to unpeel the layers of the onion as to what the body has gone through,” said Staples.
ProHealth has several physical therapy professionals who can address discomfort early to prevent small issues from turning into long-term problems. Rather than waiting for the pain to intensify, seeking physical therapy at the first sign of trouble can help runners recover quickly and get back on track. ProHealth Physical Therapy and Pilates Studio is located at 1777 Georgian Park in Peachtree City. for more information or to book an appointment, phone 770-487-1931 or visit prohealthga.com.