WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET INJURED
Injuries are a common and distressing part of running. But, if you find yourself injured, do not panic! It’s easy to get lost and start flailing around to stay on your feet. Use a simple systematic approach to minimize the effects of an injury and quickly get back on your feet.
PART ONE:
GET ANSWERS!
- Figure out how you got injured:
- Was there an avoidable fall or stumble? Or could your injury have been prevented?
- See a sports doctor to find out:
- Did you injure a muscle, ligament, bone, or joint?
- Is something catastrophically broken or torn?
- Is there underlying wear and tear?
- Are you running too much?
PART TWO:
ASK QUESTIONS!
Once you get the information above, you can start your short and long term planning:
- Is this a simple problem?
- A mild injury like a blister or mild sprain/strain should heal with simple interventions.
- Is this a complicated problem?
- A catastrophic break or tear may not heal, even with medical intervention.
- Can I run?
- You may feel like you can train through your injury. If your symptoms do not interfere with your ability to run, then you could insist on running.
- You may be resistant to resting because of an upcoming race or event.
- Should I run?
- Running is not a “no pain, no gain” endeavor. Pain is your body’s warning that what you are doing is not right. You can easily make your injury worse or permanent.
- You must work with your body rather than constantly fighting it. You may have to change your goals and decrease your running until it makes better sense.
- Not everyone should run. People born with poor biomechanics may not be suited for running. If you have arthritis or some underlying chronic tissue failure, running may make your condition much worse.
RECENT BLOG POST
TAPING YOUR INJURIES!
May 14, 2020
Taping has long been used by physical therapists and athletic trainers to treat various sports-related musculoskeletal injuries. Kinesiology taping is a modernized method of taping, popularized by its