A guide to common running injuries

Here is a physiotherapists outlook on common running injuries and the long term effects of them based on research available here, here and here.

• Up to 56% of runners will injure themselves every year
• This equates to 12.1 injuries per 1000 hours of running 
• 50-75% of these injuries are due to overuse and non-treatment
• Up to 70% of these runners will suffer from the same injury in 12 months
• Up to 90% of these runners will have to stop running

DO YOU SUFFER FROM PAIN OR DISCOMFORT DURING OR AFTER RUNNING?
If yes read on... 
​If no, you can view Physio Labs’ guide to recovering from a big run here.

​Plantar Fasciitis

What will I feel?
·       Pain under your heel, in your foot arch in the morning or after resting.
·       Your heel pain will be worse with the first steps and improves with activity as it warms up.
·       Worsening plantar fasciitis may change 
              o   Heel pain after exercise. (bad)
              o   Heel pain before and after exercise. (very bad)
              o   Heel pain before, during and after exercise. (Terrible)
              o   Heel pain all the time. Including at rest! (oh no)

Achilles Tendinitis

What will I feel?
·       Swelling and pain close to the heel
·       Achilles tendonitis usually causes pain, stiffness, and loss of strength in the affected area.
·       The pain may get worse when you use your Achilles tendon.
·       You may have more pain and stiffness during the night or when you get up in the morning.
·       You may notice a crunchy sound or feeling when you use the tendon

Illio-Tibial Band Friction Syndrome

What will I feel?
·     Sharp or burning pain just above the outer part of the knee
·     Pain that worsens with continuance of running or other repetitive activities, especially when going down hill
·     Swelling over the outside of the knee.
·     Pain during early knee bending 
·   Gradual onset of symptoms which if they persist for greater than 4 weeks can cause major sport or activity interference. 

 Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome[MTSS])

What will I feel?
·       Shin splints cause dull, aching pain in the front of the lower leg. 
·       Depending on the exact cause, the pain may be located along either side of the shinbone or in the muscles. 
·       The area may be painful to the touch.
·       Worsening Shin Splints may change 
              o   Discomfort that disappears during warm-up.  
              o   Discomfort that may disappear during warm-up but reappears at the end of activity.
              o   Discomfort that gets worse during the activity.
              o   Pain or discomfort all the time.

 Runners Knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)

What will I feel?
·     The onset of your kneecap pain is normally gradual rather than traumatic.
·     Pain during weightbearing or shock activities that involve knee bending. 
·     Other painful activities include stairs, squatting, kneeling or hopping. 
·   As your patellofemoral pain syndrome progresses your knee will become painful while walking and then ultimately even at rest. 
·       You may experience pain in your knee when your knee is bent eg. sitting in a chair (theatre knee)

Hamstring or Calf Tear

What will I feel?
·       Sudden and severe pain during exercise, along with a snapping or popping feeling.
·       For hamstring 
              o   Pain in the back of the thigh and lower buttock when walking, straightening the leg, or bending over.
              o   Hamstring tenderness (back of your thigh).
·       For Calf 
              o   Pain in the back of the lower leg when walking, straightening the leg, or bending over.
              o   Pain with coming onto your tip toes
              o   Calf tenderness (back of your lower leg above your ankle but below your knee)
·       Bruising may appear within 24-72 hours with either of these.

Give Physio Labs a call to schedule an appointment on (07) 5610 1933 

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