Running is arguably the most basic form of exercise, and it’s also an important aspect of almost every single sporting activity. After a lower body injury, one of the goals of many of our clients is to get back to a point where they can run without pain. Rest can help with some of this, but physical therapy is what will drive your recovery and get you back into a running routine sooner. In today’s blog, we explain how our therapy team can help you get back into a running routine after an injury.
How PT Can Help You Run Again
Physical therapy is imperative for not only helping you get back to running without pain, but helping you do it sooner. Here’s how we can help at OrthoRehab Specialists:
- Strength Training – It’s not enough to just let the injured areas heal, you also need to be proactive in helping nearby supportive structures get stronger so they can help take stress off the recovering area. A physical therapist can help provide you with exercises to strengthen both the injured areas and nearby structures that are crucial for support.
- Form Feedback – We also have equipment that can help analyze your form and see if there are any deficiencies in your running style. This biometric feedback can help our therapists understand if your form is putting your knees, hips or feet at a heightened risk of injury. It can also provide feedback for how you are progressing through your rehab.
- Progression Plan – Returning to running after an injury isn’t as simple as waiting until pain stops and then lacing up your running shoes. Our therapy team can help develop a running progression plan so you gradually build up your distance and endurance. Overdoing it while you’re recovering is a quick way to suffer a setback, so a physical therapist can provide you with guidance and goal setting to ensure your running program progresses as it should.
- Sport-Specific Needs – Not only can we help you get back to a standard running routine, but we can also craft a therapy routine based on the individual needs of the sport you want to return to. If you want to run football routes that require turning and jumping or you need to be able to run and kick on the soccer pitch, we can help develop therapy techniques that account for the specific demands of your sport. Many of our therapists played or still play sports, so they have first-hand experience and know what muscle systems and joints are called on the most during your athletic activity.
- Education – Finally, running is much more than just a physical pursuit. It also has a significant mental component, and we can help educate you on some of these key aspects. We can explain what you should be thinking about during your run, how you should feel during your run, and what signs to look out for that suggest something isn’t right. We can also give you running routines, exercises to build mileage or cross training techniques to build other muscle groups that will make your run easier.
So if you want to get back into a running routine after an injury or surgery, or you’re wondering how you can make a swift and safe return to your team, connect with a physical therapist and let us help you put your best foot forward. For more information, reach out to the experienced team at OrthoRehab Specialists today.