Running is a sport that has rapidly grown in popularity following COVID-19 lockdowns, due to the convenience of being able to do it anytime, anywhere and at no financial cost. Running has many health benefits including reducing the risk of chronic diseases, improving cardiovascular fitness and mental wellbeing.
Motivated runners will work hard and work often to achieve their desired result. Over-training or an increased emphasis on running frequency, intensity or volume when the athlete is not conditioned can actually result in poor performance. Working at a high intensity for an extended period of time, or having insufficient rest between workouts can hinder the body’s ability to adapt and improve. The body requires time to rest and recover from the stressors of exercise. Injury and illness can commonly occur as a result of overloading the body, with approximately ⅕ runners experiencing injuries at any time.
Common running injuries include;
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Ankle pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Illiotibial band irritation
- Low back pain and sciatica
Time spent recovering from injury interrupts training consistency and overall performance. At OsteopathyOne we can help with all stages of your running journey, from your first run to a full marathon. During the osteopathic consultation we will conduct a full medical history with a holistic assessment of the body, including standing, walking and running biomechanics and functional movements.
Manual osteopathic treatment can improve restriction and discomfort within the body, by improving joint mobility, muscle tension and circulation. Osteopathic treatment does not only benefit those runners who are injured, it can be beneficial for runners who want to be proactive and prevent injury from occurring.
In combination with manual therapy, an osteopathic consultation can include patient specific physical therapy; including the incorporation of active rehabilitation both in the clinic and at home. Educating our runners to incorporate strength and mobility based movement at home will be important in maintaining consistency of health and wellbeing and reducing time spent injured or sore.
At OsteopathyOne we want to help you achieve your running goals and will work with you to deliver a specific treatment plan to get there.
Author: Our Osteopath – Dr Michaela is currently training for the Gold Coast Half Marathon (July 2022).
Benca, E., Listabarth, S., Flock, F., Pablik, E., Fischer, C., & Walzer, S. et al. (2020). Analysis of Running-Related Injuries: The Vienna Study. Journal Of Clinical Medicine, 9(2), 438. doi: 10.3390/jcm9020438
Hollander, K., Rahlf, A., Wilke, J., Edler, C., Steib, S., Junge, A., & Zech, A. (2021). Sex-Specific Differences in Running Injuries: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression. Sports Medicine, 51(5), 1011-1039. doi: 10.1007/s40279-020-01412-7