Is Running Bad For You?
Have you Been Told To Stop Running?
In today’s article we’re going to talk about something that we hear all too common. If you’re a runner and you’re going to other medical professionals, no matter who it is, whether it’s a physical therapist, chiropractor, orthopaedic surgeon – we’ve heard this story a lot. We’ve heard a lot from the runners we see that the other medical professionals they’re seeing are telling them to just stop running. Runners are being told because of your hamstring pain, stop running. Because of your Achilles pain, stop running. Because of your knee pain, stop running.
If you are more of the visual and auditory learner just click the YouTube video below outlining everything that is in this article!
Hearing this type advice from the medical community can be contrary to what you actually want to do as a runner! The benefits of running far outweigh the negatives! However, there are a few things you need to do to continue running in the healthiest and best way for you!
The MOST IMPORTANT thing you need to do is get down to the root cause of why you have pain to begin with!
Assessing to see if the IT Band Is Tight
Generally, there are underlying issues as to why you have the pain and the other medical practitioners aren’t looking into them. They’re only treating the source, telling you take ibuprofen, giving you a cortisone injection and rest. However, if you just rest and then get back to running – of course your symptoms are going to come back! You never got down to the root cause of the problem!
There are easy, treatable problems and exercises you can do to help benefit you and treat your pain!
Rotational Lunge Exercises Challenging the Core
Recently, we were able to interact with a 70 year old man who is golfing 3 to 4 times a week, running 5ks on Sundays, participating in CrossFit and staying ACTIVE! Upon first glance, it’s completely noticeable that he doesn’t have good posture. Many health care practitioners would probably say that he’s just asking for pain or risking breaking his spine by being so active at what many would consider a delicate age. However, he is killing it! He’s so active and he’s put on 10 to 15 lbs of muscle since starting CrossFit and strengthening! These are the stories we love because it shows that it is possible to be active and be strong without pain at any point in your life! You are able to meet your goals of whether it’s weight goals, training goals or mental goals!
Do You Want To Be In The Winner’s Circle?
Don’t let injuries hold you back and don’t be okay with being told that your body is NOT made for running! Address the areas, strengthen the surrounding musculature and you can do anything! There is a way for you to remain active, for you to RUN and continue doing what you love. You need to find a program that works for you. Whether it’s a flexibility program or a strengthening program – you’ll find what works for you and be back to doing what you love in no time.
You will find many of these principles in my 5 Tips For Healthy Running!
Check out all 5 of my healthy running tips in this previously posted blog article by clicking THIS LINK
Are you a runner looking for a community that is dedicated to helping you stay happy and healthy doing what you love?
You could be an active adult starting out with a couch to 5k program or you may be an experienced marathoner!
The FREE Healthy Runner CT facebook group is your answer!
Healthy Runner CT Facebook Group
Our specialty here is prehab, rehab, recovery, and performance for all types of runners!
Our Healthy Runner CT group warmup before the New Haven Road Race!
CLICK HERE to join our community http://bit.ly/HealthyRunnerGroup
Are you a runner that is trying to stay healthy but can’t train because pain is stopping you from meeting your goals?
Are you worried that an injury will limit you from doing what you love like working out and training?
Have you wondered what it will cost you in the long run if you continue to train through pain?
Have you seen other medical providers in the past that just tell you to stop your activity?
We have a unique treatment approach that focuses on solving these problems with our clients. We combine manual hands-on techniques with guided supervised exercises to help you get stronger, pain-free and perform at your peak level to get you back on the road doing what you love. Our goal is to help keep you active and on the road, while recovering from injury by guiding you in ways to modify your training, rather than eliminating running!
The SPARK Physical Therapy Commitment
No long waits or multiple trips to providers’ offices every week. We see you either onsite at a partnering gym or in the comfort of your home when it is convenient with your schedule.
One on one for a full hour with your doctor of physical therapy, every visit. We provide you with a customized plan specifically designed for you, based off your unique injury and goals.
Full transparency in what you pay. You will never get a bill from us a couple of months after your visit.
Access and availability to you! Have a question about your pain or exercise program? Get an answer from your therapist directly.
If you’re in the greater Hamden, CT area and are a runner that has been dealing with injuries we can help. We’d love to chat for a few minutes and see if you are a good fit for what we do. Fill in this CONTACT REQUEST LINK and we’ll set up a free-minute phone consultation with a doctor of physical therapy
Thank you for taking the time to read,
– Duane Scotti, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS
A special thanks goes out to Allie Eldridge, SPT for her contributions to this article
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You can teach an old dog new tricks!!! I have never considered myself a runner and I knew I needed to be smart about it because I am no spring chicken. Spark preached getting strong and healthy to be injury free and they practice what they preach. I am soooo glad I made the investment in me! I finished my half marathon last weekend and couldn’t be any happier! The program fed me all the steps I needed to essentially learn how to run long distance, build strength, nutrition help, a forum of other runners and probably most important was the 1:1 coaching. I had no idea how to tackle training for a 1/2 marathon and this program broke all of it down, had it individualized for me and we tweaked as we went to make sure I was staying healthy and strong. I had so many questions the week prior to my race and Coach Cat was always there for me and answering all the questions and issues I had-and believe me there were a lot! The biggest benefit I think I got was the strength. I am strong and fit. But most important was what I gained emotionally. I built confidence and strength I didn’t know I had, even at my age. Honestly could not have done this without Spark Healthy Runners!
My Healthy Runner journey started after I had battled bilateral achilles pain for a few months and was frustrated how it affected my running. As soon as I talked to Duane I knew I had made the right decision. His positivity, enthusiasm and genuine care are infectious. The training plan that was tailored to me included specific exercises to rehab my injury and I was so excited that I didn’t have to stop running. It took patience to only run slow for a few weeks but I trusted the process and it got me me to where I am now: running pain free. We made adjustments to the plan throughout whenever needed having someone in your corner that is always there with guidance and support throughout the process was invaluable.
I just ran my second half marathon, both with Duane’s coaching, and PR’d by over 9 minutes! I got all choked up in the last mile when I realized that I felt strong and could still kick it up a notch.
I’m so thankful for the Healthy Runner program, community and the entire coaching team for all the support!
Wanting to run more consistently, and to increase my long run distance and total weekly mileage, I was concerned about hip pain due to hip alignment issues. This is an issue I had when I trained for my first half marathon several years ago. Having listened to the Healthy Runner podcast for the past couple years, I knew Duane Scotti could help. I signed up for the four-month strength and running training program and am extremely happy with the results.
The program Duane and Coach Whitney developed for me was exactly what I needed. It was tailored to my needs and to my target race. Coach Whitney was very helpful, and with the biweekly coaching calls, we were able to fine tune the program based off my performance and feedback.
At the end of the program, I completed a 10K trail race feeling strong and pain free.
I highly recommend Duane Scotti and the Healthy Runner training programs.