“Is physical therapy a must for runners?”
In our latest training session we were told that runners should frequently go to physical therapists. Is it true? How does it help? Is it more preventative than anything else?
8 Answers
Catherine Holway
Physical Therapist
Well, we all move from our unique postural patterns, and over time that may put unusual strains on a runner's legs or back. So if you feel a predictable ache or twinge after your run, it might be worth getting it checked out by a PT.
Must go is pretty strong verbiage, but I definitely agree that seeing a physical therapist occasionally can improve your running and decrease your risk of injury. Assessing mobility and strength to find and address imbalances and looking at mechanics/running analysis can improve running efficiency and decrease undo stress on tissues can help runners running without pain or injury.
Depending on the distance you run, how competitively you run, and what type condition your body is in, it would be a good idea to have a go to relationship with a physical therapost. I work with a lot of runners personally on an ongoing basis. We are the movement specialists best equipped to help you prevent injuries from occuring, recover from injury, and maximize your performance as efficiciently as possible. How frequently you go depends on many factors. In a prevention role with no injury maybe monthly, quarterly, or annually. If you are injured then your frequency will be based on what is needed to recover the fastest and get you to the highest level. Hope this helps!
Stretching and endurance training will be very helpful.
It's a myth as long as you do all your stretches and wear proper footwear for running, you should be okay. If you are in pain, then yes, PT is recommended.
Yes. It can help prevent inflammatory/over use conditions. Participating in any activity repeatedly will also cause muscle imbalances. A physical therapist is best equipped to work with you to prevent injury due to muscle imbalance
If you’re not sure of how you’re running then, you should see a physical therapist before participating in the running activities. Seeing a physical therapist will help to prevent any potential injury
Yes it is true. Runners should seek out a local PT for frequent consultations. It is always better to prevent an injury than to treat an injury. As grandma said "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
