Running Injury Assessment
& Management in Bath

Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise, offering a range of benefits from improved cardiovascular health to mental well-being. However, despite its advantages, running can sometimes lead to injuries, especially if proper precautions aren’t taken. Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or just starting out, understanding common running injuries and how to prevent them is crucial for maintaining a healthy, pain-free running routine.

How Osteopathy Can Help with Running Injuries

1. Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment
   One of the most significant benefits of seeing an osteopath for a running injury is their ability to accurately diagnose the underlying cause of your pain. Unlike treatments that focus solely on the symptoms, osteopathy looks at the whole body to determine why an injury occurred. For example, a runner with knee pain may find that the issue originates from hip misalignment or foot mechanics. An osteopath will assess your entire musculoskeletal system, identify any imbalances, and develop a tailored treatment plan to address the root cause of your injury.

2. Relief from Pain and Discomfort
   Osteopaths use a range of manual techniques, such as soft tissue massage, joint mobilization, and stretching, to relieve pain and discomfort associated with running injuries. By targeting the affected areas and addressing any related muscular or skeletal imbalances, osteopathic treatment can significantly reduce pain, promote relaxation, and enhance your body’s natural healing processes. This hands-on approach can also help to release tight muscles, improve joint mobility, and reduce inflammation, providing immediate and long-term relief.

3. Improved Recovery Time
   One of the key goals of osteopathic treatment for running injuries is to speed up recovery time. By improving blood flow, reducing muscle tension, and enhancing joint function, osteopathic techniques help your body repair itself more efficiently. Whether you’re dealing with a sprain, strain, shin splints, or more complex issues like IT band syndrome or plantar fasciitis, an osteopath can help you get back to running sooner by supporting your body’s healing processes.

4. Prevention of Future Injuries
   Osteopathy isn’t just about treating existing injuries—it’s also an excellent preventive measure. By addressing the underlying causes of your injury, such as muscle imbalances, poor posture, or biomechanical issues, an osteopath can help you prevent future injuries. They may provide advice on proper running techniques, recommend specific exercises to strengthen weak areas, or suggest changes to your running routine or footwear. This proactive approach helps ensure that your body remains strong, balanced, and resilient, reducing the likelihood of re-injury.

5. Enhanced Performance
   Even if you’re not currently injured, seeing an osteopath can enhance your running performance. By ensuring that your musculoskeletal system is functioning optimally, osteopathy can help you run more efficiently and with less strain on your body. This might involve improving joint mobility, enhancing muscle flexibility, and correcting any postural issues. The result is a more fluid and effective running style, which can translate to better performance and reduced fatigue.

6. Holistic Care and Individualized Treatment
   Osteopaths take a holistic approach to care, considering all aspects of your health and lifestyle in their treatment plans. They understand that running injuries can be influenced by a range of factors, including your overall fitness level, stress, nutrition, and even sleep patterns. By addressing these broader health concerns, an osteopath can help you achieve better overall well-being, which in turn supports your running goals. The treatment is also highly individualized, ensuring that your specific needs and goals are met.

Common running injuries we treat

Runner’s Knee

Runner’s knee is one of the most common running injuries. It refers to pain around the kneecap (patella) where it meets the thighbone (femur). This injury often results from overuse, improper running form, or weak thigh muscles.

Symptoms generally are a dull, aching pain around the front of the knee, which may worsen when running, squatting, or climbing stairs.

Treatment (or prevention) involves strengthening the muscles around the knee, particularly the quadriceps, can help prevent runner’s knee. Additionally, focusing on proper running form and using well-cushioned, supportive shoes can reduce the risk. If you develop runner’s knee, rest, ice, and physical therapy are often recommended.

ITB Syndrome

Iliotibial Band Syndrome, is a common injury among runners. It occurs when the iliotibial band, a thick band of tissue that runs along the outside of the thigh from the hip to the knee, becomes tight or inflamed. This can result in pain on the outside of the knee when running, especially when the knee is bent at a 30-degree angle. Runners may feel a sharp pain that worsens with continued activity, often forcing them to stop or alter their gait. The pain may also worsen when running downhill or after prolonged periods of activity.

Several factors can contribute to the development of ITBS, including:

• Overuse: Excessive running or repetitive knee movements can strain the IT band, leading to irritation and inflammation.

• Muscle Imbalances: Weakness or tightness in the muscles surrounding the hip and knee, such as the glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps, can alter biomechanics and increase stress on the IT band.

• Training Errors: Sudden increases in mileage, intensity, or changes in running surface can overload the IT band and increase the risk of injury.

• Biomechanical Issues: Issues with foot pronation, leg length discrepancies, or poor running form can also contribute to ITBS.

For runners experiencing ITBS, it's essential to address the issue promptly to prevent it from worsening and to facilitate recovery.

Achilles Pain

Achilles tendinopathy is another common injury among runners and athletes involving the Achilles tendon, which is the large tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It typically occurs due to overuse, improper training techniques, inadequate footwear, or biomechanical imbalances.

Are you suffering with any of the following symptoms:

• Pain and stiffness along the Achilles tendon, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity.

• Pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest.

• Swelling or thickening of the tendon.

• Tenderness or soreness when touching the tendon.

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has gained popularity as a non-invasive treatment that uses shockwaves to stimulate healing in the tendon. Research studies have shown that shockwave therapy can help stimulate the healing process, reduce pain, and improve function in patients with chronic Achilles tendon pain. We offer shockwave therapy at OsteoBath you can learn more about it here.

PLANTAR FASCIITIS

The plantar fascia is the thick tissue on the sole of your foot that extends from the heel toward the toes, along the arch of the foot. It’s made of collagen, a rigid protein that’s not very stretchy. The stress of overuse and/ or poor mechanics can cause damage to the plantar fascia tissue, causing heel pain and inflammation.

A tell tale sign of plantar fasciitis is that first step on waking in the morning and feeling as if you’re stood on a pebble or having to hobble. This pain can also reoccur after sitting for a while but generally fades as you walk and the area warms up. You may even be able to continue running with plantar fasciitis as the pain often fades with movement but this should be closely monitored by an osteopath or other physical therapist as you may be causing more damage long term.

If you are suffering with any of the following symptoms you may have plantar fasciitis:

• The pain is much worse when you start walking after sleeping or resting.

• The pain feels better during exercise, but returns after resting.

• It's difficult to raise your toes off the floor.

• A constant ache.

• Sharp or stabbing pain when you put pressure on your heel.

Depending on what stage this condition is at, osteopathy and dry needling therapy can be very effective in treating acute plantar fasciitis or shockwave therapy for chronic cases. Advice and exercises will be given from out osteopaths to compliment any treatments and are part of the overall programme for eliminating plantar fasciitis.

If you want to book an appointment regarding your heel pain but unsure what to book, please click the tab below and get in touch, we would be more than happy to help.

STRESS FRACTURE

The words no runner wants to hear! Unlike a traumatic event resulting in a broken bone, stress fractures are small breaks or cracks as a result of overuse. The repetitive impact of running over loads the capacity of the bone to absorb the forces.

'Stress fractures occur when muscles become fatigued and are unable to absorb added shock. Eventually, the fatigued muscle transfers the overload of stress to the bone, causing a tiny crack called a stress fracture,' explains Dr Matthew Oliver, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at Benenden Hospital, Kent.

Signs & symptoms of a stress fracture:

• Pain that starts and gets worse during physical activity.

• Pain that doesn't get better after stopping activity.

• Pain that's more noticeable when you're resting.

• Tenderness to even a light touch on or near your affected bone.

• Swelling.

The most important thing for runners is not to ignore early signs. If you have pain in a specific area, most commonly the tibia (shin bone) or the foot, that matches the symptoms above, please don’t continue to run - visit us so we can advise you further.