Running is one of the most common forms of exercise, and it’s required for almost every single sport, so an injury that inhibits your ability to run can really slow you down. Regardless of your reason for wanting to get back to running after an injury, we can help you achieve those goals. In today’s blog, we explain how we work with athletes and exercise enthusiasts to get them back into a running routine after an injury.
Running Again After Injury
All sorts of injuries can affect our ability to run naturally and efficiently, whether it be lumbar spine pain, shin splints or a meniscus tear. We’ve seen all of these injuries and more, and we’ve helped each runner get back on their feet and into their running program. Here’s how we do it:
- Biomechanics Education – Many running injuries happen because runners don’t realize they are putting themselves at an elevated risk for injury based on some aspect of their run, be it their form, their pace or their intensity level. We explain to each of our clients how their running pattern can stress certain areas of their body and how it may have contributed to their injury. By helping clients understand what contributes to their injury, they can learn how to avoid future problems.
- Injury Recovery and Muscle Strengthening – We’ll also develop a training program that helps expedite the healing process and strengthen key structures that are important for runners and athletes. Sometimes running injuries come about as a result of muscle imbalances or joint instability, and we can help pinpoint these risk factors and develop a training program to correct the issue. Not only can we help you heal from your injury, but we can strengthen other areas of your body that contributed to the original injury.
- Gait Analysis – One unique feature we offer at OrthoRehab Specialists is our video analysis and gait evaluation. We have specialized cameras that can record you running on a treadmill and help identify biomechanical issues, muscle imbalances or form problems. We take this video, have our experts analyze it, then we have the ability to go through it frame by frame with our clients to help them understand the nuances of their stride pattern and form. This video analysis is great for all types of runners. Whether you’re recovering from an injury and want to ensure your form is still on point, or you’re healthy but want to see if you can set a new personal best by making some biomechanical changes, we can help. Recreational runners, triathletes and everyone in between can benefit from our comprehensive running analysis program.
- We Run Too – Many of our physical therapists also run in their free time, so they also have some real world experience with handling similar issues and pains. We can connect with your running problems on a personal and professional level, and we think that takes our care ability to the next level. We have recreational runners and marathoners on our staff, so we can connect you with a physical therapist that best suits your needs and goals.
For more information, or if you want to get back to running following an injury, give us a call at (612) 339-2041 and set up a session today.