Incorporating running into your daily exercise routine is one of the easiest ways to stay fit, however, it is also known to be the easiest way of developing an injury. Aches and pains caused by running aren’t just common in beginners but also expert level runners as well. Are you a runner and have been experiencing pain during or afterward? Free Body Physical Therapy offers running injury treatment Chicago to help treat your running injuries no matter the severity and also help you prevent new running injuries in the future.
Common Running Injuries
Running injuries usually occur when you push yourself too hard, especially if you are new to running. Additionally, the way your body moves during these actions impacts your overall health as well. Common running injuries and pains may include but are not limited to:
- Ankle sprains
- Achilles tendinitis
- Blisters
- Heel spur
- Hamstring tear or strain
- Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome
- Muscle pulls and tears
- Plantar fasciitis
- Shin splints
- Stress fractures
- Ruptured tendon
- Runner’s knee
- Temperature related injuries- sunburn, heat exhaustion, hypothermia and frostbite
How to Prevent These Injuries From Occurring
If you are a seasoned runner or even just starting, there are many methods you can take into consideration when running to help prevent future injuries from occurring. It is important to always put your health and body first, and you should always be your main priority. Here are some helpful tips from our office for running injury treatment Chicago and ways to prevent future running injuries from occurring that include but are not limited to:
- Wear proper footwear- When running your shoes should fit properly and made for running specifically. It is also important to replace your sneakers when they become worn out, losing their support over time.
- Warm-up properly- Walking or jogging first is known to loosen up your muscles and joints before increasing your effort.
- Stretching- Dynamic stretching before your run and static stretching after your run.
- Avoid overtraining- As much running daily can seem like the best way to stay as fit as possible, your body needs rest days which are equally as important.
- Cross-train- Running is not used by itself to stay fit and keep a healthy lifestyle. You need to be in good shape overall to run without developing injuries
- Change up your running route- Running the same route daily can begin to become monotonous and boring. To keep your running routine fun and interesting, changing up where you run can help to make the experience more enjoyable.
Looking for Running Injury Treatment Chicago?
Look no further! Free Body Physical Therapy, running injury treatment Chicago, is here to help! Whether you’ve recently developed a running-related injury and need assistance recovering, or need help preventing further running injuries, our certified physical therapists are here for you. Visit our website or contact us to schedule an appointment today!
Is your ankle and foot pain holding you back? Our team at Free Body Physical Therapy specializes in foot and ankle pain. Habits of your daily lifestyle can be increasing the risk of foot and ankle pain. If you are experiencing this pain, check out running injury treatment Chicago!
Causes of Foot and Ankle Pain.
An active lifestyle can lead to foot and ankle pain. The average American walks between 3,000 and 4,000 steps a day. The foot consists of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that work together to function properly. The smallest tweak can cause pain. Here are common causes of foot and ankle pain.
- Ankle Sprains.
- Plantar Fasciitis.
- Fractures.
- Achilles Tendonitis.
- Arch Issues.
It is important to make sure to stretch and take proper precautions before doing physical activity or anything that causes stress to the feet.
Risk Factors.
There are risk factors that can increase your chances of increasing foot and ankle pain. We want you to understand these factors to decrease the chances of pain. Many factors are avoidable. Lifestyle changes may need to be taken place to improve your overall foot health. Here are common risk factors:
- Wearing the wrong type of shoe.
- Arthritis.
- Obesity.
- Smoking.
- Running on Uneven Surfaces.
To understand these risk factors, contact running injury treatment Chicago.
Treatment for Foot and Ankle Pain.
Free Body Physical Therapy offers a physical therapy program custom to your injury. It is important to heal while strengthening the surrounding foot muscles. Our team will guide you through the recovery process and get your body to be pain-free. Allow us to get you back to your old self. Here are common foot and ankle exercises:
- Toe Raises.
- Toe Curls.
- Achilles Stretch.
- Golf Ball Stretch.
- Marble Pickups.
For more information on physical therapy options on the running injury treatment Chicago, click here.
Contact Free Body Physical Therapy
If you are looking for physical therapy for the foot and ankle, Free Body Physical Therapy is the place for you. Our team of professional doctors will create a recovery process that is specific to your needs. Contact running injury treatment Chicago to schedule an appointment.
How Can Running Injury Treatment Help You?
It is no secret that returning to sports after suffering an injury or after a long break can seem like a daunting task. However, it can be done. There are tons of examples of athletes who came back from what was thought to have been a career-ending injury, or athletes who returned to the top of the totem pole after time away from their sport. At Free Body Physical Therapy our expert team of running injury treatment Chicago will work with you to return to you to your pre-injury/layoff condition.
Preparation Recommendations
When preparing for your sports season it is critical to ensure that your physical conditioning is at its peak. You’ll want to do plenty of strength and endurance training so that your body feels good and is durable when the season rolls around. Lifting weights and running are two great ways to improve your strength and conditioning, respectively. Particularly, high-intensity interval training can be tremendous for building or maintaining your conditioning. Training with a partner or with your teammates is also highly recommended. This healthy competition will allow you to push yourself and will make everyone better in the long run. You should also maintain a healthy diet and try to eat as little junk food as possible, as it can decrease your motivation and compromise your performance.
Importance of Recovery and Knowing your Limitations
Although you should actively be pushing your limits and trying to be the best version of yourself as an athlete, you also need to be aware of just how important recovery is. People often overlook the fact that exercise is stress and that too much of it is damaging to your health. To make sure you aren’t burnt out from training too intensely in the offseason, be sure to take days off when needed. It’s also critical that you know your limits, especially when you are recovering from an injury. Pushing yourself too hard can result in reinjury if you aren’t fully healed, making it key that you find a happy medium between intensity and recovery.
Seeking Running Injury Treatment Chicago?
If you are an athlete seeking running injury treatment Chicago, Free Body Physical Therapy is glad to help. Our talented team of physical therapists can ensure that you are feeling your best when your season rolls around. People often overlook the advantages that physical therapy has in terms of not only restoring full health but of increasing performance once full health has already been restored. To make an appointment and learn more about how physical therapy can help you as an athlete, contact us today!
