Physical Therapy For Runners
Physical therapy is an excellent resource for runners looking to make improvements in their performance (you don’t need to be injured to see a physical therapist. Better yet, we love seeing you when you’re healthy so that we can help you stay healthy!). Finding a physical therapist who specializes in treating runners and regularly works with them on reducing pain, preventing injury, and improving performance (technique, speed, endurance) is key.
Physical therapists are body movement experts and consider all things for the best results. They evaluate strength, mobility, running mechanics, and movement patterns to get you on the path to a new PR. The point of going to physical therapy as a runner is to keep you healthy and training without injury, and move you forward toward your race goals.
You don’t have to be injured or in pain to benefit from going to physical therapy. Sure, the main reason a lot of runners seek physical therapy is to recover from an injury or area of nagging pain that they just can’t shake. But sports physical therapists who regularly treat runners can look at how you’re currently moving and identify the areas that need more work, then come up with a plan that’s tailored to you.
An in-clinic evaluation (especially a running analysis!) gives your therapist the chance to get a hands-on feel for how you move, as well as test your strength and mobility, to give you the best feedback possible. We test strength of the core, upper body, lower body, range of motion throughout the body, observe various movements (squats, single leg balance, lunges, etc), and rule out any major complications. With this information, your therapist can create a custom plan that treats your areas of weakness early (before it sets you back in training), prevents aches and pains from popping up, and keeps you on track with your current training plan. Physical therapists can also make recommendations on how to optimize your recovery strategies, which involves discussion of foam rolling, massage, and mobility/stretching, to give you that extra boost on your hard training days.
My best recommendation is to find a physical therapist who is trained in treating runners or search “physical therapy for runners near me” on your favorite search engine.
If you’re local to the Tri-Cities, WA area, contact Game Changer Physical Therapy located in Kennewick, WA. I’m Kacie Shively, PT, DPT, a physical therapist for athletes who specializes in working with runners and triathletes in my clinic. Find out more information and determine if physical therapy would be beneficial for you by booking a free 15-minute discovery call via my scheduling link below. I’m always happy to help!
Check out more of my blog post for runners: