How to Diagnose Common Running Injuries – And When It's Time to See a Doctor
Marathon season is well underway - and unfortunately so is an increase in running injuries. Runners of all skill levels can risk injury, and it’s important to understand which will be cured with rest and ice, and which will require more advanced treatment.
We’ve written extensively about common running injuries, but this piece will help you understand the severity of common injuries so you can determine how to proceed.
How to Tell if a Running Injury is Serious
As many runners know, it can be common to feel sore or a little “off” after a run. But you need to learn when your body is experiencing something more extreme than just soreness and fatigue. The following are signs that you are suffering from a running injury:
Sharp pain when runing
Pain that persists after you stop running
Pain that makes it difficult to walk
Joint swelling
If you experience pain for longer than a week, or you are suffering from any of the pain explained above, you should contact a physical therapist such as Oregon Running Clinic.
Common Running Injury Symptoms and What They Mean
Heel and Arch Pain, including:
Pain and local tenderness beginning at the heel of the foot
Heel pain with the first step of the day
Heel and arch soremess at the beginning of a run that decreases during a run.
You might be suffering from Plantar Fasciitis.
How to treat it: Ice your heels and arches after running. Stretch your calf muscles before and after running. You should also reevaluate your running shoes and potentially get orthotics.
Shin Soreness, including:
Soreness along inside or outside of the shin or tibia
Shin pain at the beginning of a run that decreases during a run
Shin soreness after running
You might be suffering from shin splints.
How to treat it: Strengthen your hip and lower leg muscles with regular exercises. You also may need to replace your shoes. You may also need to adjust your running form by working with a professional coach.
Achilles Tendon Pain, including:
Achilles pain with possible swelling, heat, and redness over the tendon
Stiff and painful Achilles tendon after running or activity
Tight calf muscles
You might be suffering from Achilles Tendinitis.
How to treat it: Decrease mileage and get shoes with shock-absorbing features. Ice your achilles tendon after running. Work on calf strengthening and add calf stretching to your routine.
Sharp pain along the outside of the knee, including:
Pain is sharp or irritating
Pain gets worse while you run, and may get so bad you need to stop running
You may be suffering from Iliotibial Band Syndrome or IT-band syndrome.
How to treat it: Rest and take a break from running. Ice your knee. You may need to change your running routes to run on softer surfaces, as well as get new shoes that have more heel support and rearfoot cushioning. You may need to adjust your running form, and work with a physical therapist to understand where you need to correct muscle imbalances.
Deep or dull ache under the kneecap, including:
Kneecap pain that gets worse when using stairs
Pain that gets worse with downhill running
Knee stiffness after prolonged sitting
You may be suffering from Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome or runner’s knee.
How to treat it: Ice your knee and stretch regularly. You may need to work with a physical therapist to help correct muscle imbalance, as well as taping the kneecap to assist with tracking.
When should you seek a physical therapist
Physical therapy can be the right choice to help speed up your injury recovery time and reduce risk of re-injury. You should consult a physical therapist when:
Pain or function problems are related to low back pain, hip or knee osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia
Opioids are prescribed for pain.
Pain lasts 90 days or longer
If you’re uncertain if you should seek treatment, contact Oregon Running Clinic for a consultation.