Running is a great form of cardio exercise, but without the proper shoes and running techniques, you could easily become injured. Watch out for these annoying running injuries, and get treatment as soon as possible. Continuing to run on an injured foot or irritated knee could cause serious harm and lead to a longer recovery period.

Metatarsalgia

Also called bone bruises, metatarsalgia is an injury affecting the nerve that runs between the third and fourth foot bones (metatarsals). The condition makes it feel as though you’re walking on pebbles. Wearing tight shoes, engaging in high-impact exercises, and having a second toe longer than your big toe all put you at risk for metatarsalgia.

To help you heal quickly, rest and ice your foot, take anti-inflammatory medication, and avoid running for a while. Long-term fixes for metatarsalgia include wearing the right shoes with fitted orthotics and fixing any gait problems that may have caused the condition to develop in the first place. We can provide the treatments you’re looking for at Spine Correction Center of the Rockies!

Plantar Fasciitis

You might have this running injury if you experience pain and inflammation on the bottom of your foot. A sharp, tight pain at the base of the heel is a common symptom of this condition. Plantar fasciitis is caused by overtraining, wearing worn-out shoes, or having weak foot muscles.

You can pursue many treatment options for plantar fasciitis, from better arch support to cold laser therapy to foot taping. At Spine Correction Center, we’ve found that it’s most effective to address the underlying cause rather than mask your symptoms with a Band-Aid. That’s why we correct gait issues, fix poor posture, and prescribe full-contact orthotics to relieve our patients’ foot pain permanently.

Achilles Tendonitis

This running injury describes the inflammation of the Achilles tendon. You might recognize this condition by the pain it creates in your lower calf just above your heel. Tight calves are a common culprit, as are unsupportive running shoes and a sudden increase in training intensity.

Over the short term, rest, ice, and stretching can relieve symptoms of Achilles tendonitis. Once the pain subsides, work on strengthening your calf muscles with squats, toe stands, and box jumps. Also, get help choosing the right shoes for your feet and get fitted for custom orthotics.

Shin Splints

The umbrella term “shin splints” describes several running injuries that manifest as pain in the shin area. Minor cases involve tender and inflamed leg muscles, while severe injuries turn into stress fractures along the tibia, which can be excruciating. A sudden increase in training volume and intensity is the most common cause.

For now, rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications can reduce tenderness and swelling. If you take care of yourself and stay off your injury, it should heal quite quickly on its own. When you resume your training, be careful not to increase the intensity too much or you could re-injure yourself.

IT Band Syndrome

The iliotibial (IT) band is the tendon connecting your knee to your hip. When this tendon becomes inflamed, it can create stabbing pain in your knee when you run. Running downhill and on sideways-sloped roads are common causes of IT band syndrome because these actions put extra stress on the side of your knees.

Sometimes, the environment isn’t to blame for IT band syndrome. You could develop this running injury if you have a gait problem, leg length discrepancy, dominant pelvic rotation, or bowlegs. At Spine Correction Center, we can remedy these physical abnormalities to address the underlying cause of your injury.

Patellar Tendonitis

Also known as jumper’s knee, patellar tendonitis describes the swelling of the patellar tendon that runs from the kneecap to the top of the tibia. It’s a common overuse injury seen among runners and athletes who repeatedly run, jump, and kick.

Spine Correction Center is one of the few clinics in the country to offer stem cell therapy coupled with physical rehabilitation to treat patellar tendonitis. This natural, non-invasive, non-surgical treatment helps you resume all the physical activities you love pain-free.

Receive Treatment for Running Injuries at Spine Correction Center

Our team is trained in natural treatment methods for all sorts of running injuries, including the ones listed above. There’s no need to continue living in pain when you can receive effective, non-surgical treatment at our Fort Collins office!

To schedule your free consultation, please contact Spine Correction Center today at (970) 658-5115.