3 Simple Reminders for Injured Runners

Every day I have the privilege to work with injured runners, who are in distress over their inability to train in a consistent manner. In the vast majority of cases, most runners seeking my services have already tried everything under the sun (to no avail) as they desperately attempt to keep training before they break down, accept their situation, and come knocking on my door. Before delving in to my physical therapy evaluation, I always make it a point to first speak with them about their injury and unique presentation in an effort to help them reconceptualize their situation while mitigating threat to their livelihood as a runner. To this end, I thought it would be helpful to share three simple reminders that I often bring up in conversation while working with injured runners.

1. MOST RUNNING RELATED INJURIES ARE NON-TRAUMATIC
When considering the injury patterns among runners, the research clearly demonstrates that the vast majority of running related injuries (RRIs) are non-traumatic in nature. This is great news because it's not as if you were tackled and sustained an ACL injury or that you dropped a heavy weight on your foot. So put your mind to ease and realize that things are not that bad considering the fact that there was no overt trauma.  

2. THE BODY HAS A REMARKABLE AFFINITY TO HEAL -
As a runner, chances are that you are in relatively good health as a function of your training and active lifestyle. With that said, your body has a remarkable affinity to heal irrespective of your age. While some runners may possess certain co-morbidities that may delay the recovery process, most runners will rebound from injury in a timely manner provided that they remain pro-active, work with a running injury specialist, and make good decisions during the recovery process.

3. RUNNERS ALMOST ALWAYS RESPOND TO CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT
In providing care for hundreds if not thousands of injured runners at this point in my career, I've never personally worked with a runner, who went on to require surgery to address a RRI that was non-traumatic in nature. This is good news provided that you connect with a rehab professional, who specializes in managing injured runners and prepares you for a safe return to training. If surgery, pills, and injectables are offered as a viable solution or long term fix, make sure to get a second opinion. While such measures can provide short term relief, they typically worsen the situation and only serve to prolong an otherwise timely recovery.

See you on the streets!