Take Steps to Treat and Prevent Minor Running Injuries
Minor running injuries can cause pain up and down your feet and legs. While they can be super frustrating and inconvenient, not every injury means hanging up your running shoes for long. Minor injuries can heal quickly if you know what to look for and what to do.
Running can hurt sometimes, even when you’re not injured. Small aches and pains are just part of a runner’s life. Often the discomfort is no more than normal soreness that can be treated with ice and rest. Other times the pain forces you to ask yourself important questions. Are you using poor running techniques? Do you need better running shoes? Does your body need a break? Injured runners in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area can turn to the experts at Summit Orthopedics for help getting them back on their feet faster.
What Is Considered a Minor Running Injury?
If you’re dealing with pain from a nagging injury, knowing what to look for is the first step. Look for one or more of the following:
- General soreness: The impact to your muscles and joints over a prolonged period can cause soreness. This type of pain is typically resolved with a few days’ rest.
- Shin splints: Most runners get the occasional shin splint, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome. The pain in the front of the lower leg is caused by inflammation of muscles, tendons, and tissue around the shin bone. A break from running helps with healing, and ice and stretching ease the pain.
- Minor plantar fasciitis: This foot condition occurs when the band of arch-supporting tissue on the bottom of the foot is overstretched. The pain can make running a real chore. But if it’s not severe, rest, ice, and stretching should get you back out on the running trail.
- Iliotibial band syndrome: This overuse injury causes pain on the outside of the knee. Taking a break from running and seeing a physical therapist is recommended.
- Stress fracture: Yet another injury resulting from overuse, these tiny cracks in the bone account for about 20% of all sports medicine injuries. A low-risk stress fracture requires rest for a period of six to eight weeks.
An appointment with a Summit Orthopedics specialist can help you determine why your injury occurred and what treatment options are ideal for you, along with helping you understand what to do to prevent it from recurring.
Preventing Minor Running Injuries
Most runners will experience a minor running injury. The good news is that by following some simple guidelines and listening to your body, you can help prevent serious injuries and keep your running routine on track.
Some factors are out of your control, but there are common risks you should be aware of so you’re better prepared for your next run:
- Overtraining: Running at an intensity level beyond your current state of fitness can put muscles, tendons, and ligaments under strain.
- Bad running form: Poor running style can increase the risk of injuries. For example, running flat-footed pulls on the shin muscles and may cause small tears. So, stay steady.
- The wrong running shoes: If your shoes aren’t the right fit or don’t provide the right amount of support for your running style, injuries can happen. Unstable surfaces: Hard surfaces, loose sand, and uneven terrain can alter your running style and increase the risk of various injuries.
If you have questions about preventing running injuries or you’re dealing with pain, contact Summit Orthopedics today. Our team has the expertise and solutions you need to live a healthy, active life.
