As a thrifty person, running is one of my favourite forms of exercise. No sign-up fees, no fancy equipment – just a pair of shoes and away you go.
As a physio, I also love that you don’t have to be a “runner” to benefit from running. A little bit of running can make everyday life easier, whether it’s running to catch the bus, chasing after the dog, keeping up with the grandkids, or joining friends for a Parkrun.
There are plenty of reasons people avoid running though, and a lot of them come down to myths that have been around for years.
“Running is bad for your joints”
This can be a reason people avoid running and stick to low-impact exercise. Sometimes people even regret the running they did when they were younger because they feel it has contributed to their aches and pains later in life.
Research shows that recreational runners have lower rates of knee osteoarthritis than non-runners. Our bodies are designed to adapt to load, including the loads involved in running. Not only can our joints, bones and muscles benefit from running, but – best of all – the increased cardiovascular fitness means you can do more activity without getting puffed.
That doesn’t mean runners never get sore. They do. But pain is often less about running itself and more about asking the body to do more than it’s ready for.
“Running injuries are just part of the sport”
People sometimes assume sore knees, Achilles pain or recurring calf strains are just the price you pay for running. They aren’t.
Many running injuries happen because the load on the body has outpaced its capacity to adapt. Maybe your training ramped up too quickly. Maybe life got busy and recovery slipped. Or maybe you’ve come back after a break and expected your body to pick up where it left off.
In the clinic, we regularly see tendinopathies, muscle strains, shin pain and knee pain. Together with our clients, we work out what factors may have contributed to the injury and develop an individualised plan to get them back on track.
It’s rarely as simple as stretching one tight muscle. We’ll look at your training history, recent changes in volume or intensity, your strength, how you’re moving and other factors that might be contributing.
As a team, we’ve completed additional training in running-related injuries, including bone stress injuries, tendinopathy, muscle strains, gait analysis, training load management and strength training for runners. It means we’re looking beyond the sore spot and helping you address the factors that contributed to the injury in the first place.
We’re here to help
You don’t need to run marathons to enjoy the benefits of running.
Whether your goal is a 5 km, your next marathon, or simply being able to jog across the road without worrying about your knee, running is worth hanging on to.
If something starts to hurt, don’t assume it’s something you just have to put up with. Often, a few changes to your training, a targeted strength program, or a better understanding of what’s going on is enough to get you back on track.
At our new Bentley clinic, we can now assess your running on our treadmill as part of your physiotherapy session. This allows us to look at how you’re moving when you run, alongside your strength, training history and any other factors that may be contributing to pain or injury.
Whether you’re dealing with a running injury, returning after a break or simply want some guidance on building your running safely, our physios can help.
Having trouble with your running? Book a Physio appointment >>
The goal isn’t just to get you through your next run. It’s to help you keep running for the long run.