Are you a true runner?

3/5/2014

RunnerDo you enjoy running to the point that: a.) Your daily goal is to get outside and go for a run,  b.) you don’t let any little injury or discomfort stop you from running,  and c.) it’s hard for you to enjoy cross training activities because you don’t get the same feeling from them as you do with running?

Then you’re a TRUE runner!

We typically love running so much that we don’t let anything stop us from enjoying that afternoon run through our favorite park, or our morning jaunt on the treadmill. The problem with us “stubborn” runners is that the little nagging discomfort we currently feel can turn into a full-blown injury if we continue to ignore it.

Being a TRUE runner myself, I’ve not only experienced a number of running injuries, but I’ve also treated them as a Licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy. Below is a short list of the injuries you could develop by ignoring that nagging pain when running.

 

Description of Nagging Pain

What that pain could develop into
  1. Pain in your lower back
     

 

 

 

 
  1. Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: mal-alignment of your sacroiliac joint, where your hip bones are either rotated or translated into an abnormal position.
  2. Significant hamstring or hip flexor tightness: over tightening of your muscles to create tension that if extreme, could alter the position of your hip bones.
  1. Tightness on the outside of your leg

     

 

 

 
  1. Iliotibial Band “Runner’s” Syndrome: tightness in the band that runs down the outside of your leg.
  2. Greater Trochanteric Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa (a fluid filled sac) that lies on top of your greater trochanter (the bump on the outside of your hip).
  1. Pain in the back of your upper leg

     

 

 

 
  1. Hamstring Strain: an overstretch to your hamstring muscle causing small microtears, and pain in the back of your thigh.
  2. Sciatica: irritation to your sciatic nerve, that exits from below your buttocks, and can cause painful numbness or tingling down the back of your leg.
  1. Inner arch or heel pain in your foot

 

 
  1. Plantar Fasciitis: inflammation in the fascia (sheath) that runs along the bottom of your foot.

 
  1. Heel pain that radiates up into your calf

 

 
  1. Achilles Tendinitis: inflammation in the tendon at the back of your heel

 

 

 

All of the diagnoses in column 2, if not treated, could prevent you from running. Don’t let it get to that point--seek the proper treatment today. Call Castle Pines Physical Therapy at 303-805-5156 to schedule your one-on-one-treatment session today.

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