Are you a runner and do you suffer from troublesome running injuries? As a runner, it is important to take proper precautions to make sure we do not injure ourselves. However, no one is immune to injury and it can happen. If you can afford it a monthly or weekly massage can help prevent injuries before they arise. It will catch those tight areas before they get the chance to become problematic. If budget or time is an issue, then it is advisable to consider getting a couple during your hardest training block.
A massage in the evening after a hard workout or the following morning is the best time. If the therapist is going deep into the muscles, then they can often be a bit sore for a few days afterwards. By having your massage close to your last hard workout, it gives your body maximum time to recover.
What injuries can a runner encounter?
Achilles Tendinitis.
This is simply inflammation of the Achilles tendon and manifests as pain in the back of the lower leg just above the heel. It is a thick band of tissue that attaches the calf muscles to the heel bone. It can become swollen and cause a sharp pain which can be incapacitating.
Sometime tight calves can be the cause. If your lower legs are tight it can put a lot of strain on the Achilles tendon and continual training, over time, can cause injury.
Plantar Fasciitis
This problem is due to inflammation in the bottom of the foot. A sharp, tight, painful sensation can be felt in the base of the heel and can be very painful. The pain is often compared to that of stepping your heel onto a nail. The pain might temporarily disappear, only to return the next day.
Runner’s Knee
With runner’s knee, you feel like you have a constant ache under your kneecap when you run. It usually worsens with the intensity of the exercise and is also known as patellofemoral knee syndrome.
Shin Splints
The term “shin splints” can refer to a number of ailments involving pain around the shin area. Worst case, shin splints can turn into a stress fracture which runs along the tibia and is extremely painful. In a less severe case the muscles around the shin can become tender and inflamed and lessens a few miles into running. Both will surely make your running experience less enjoyable.
IT Band Syndrome
Your iliotibial band is tendon which connects your knee to your hip and IT band syndrome results when the tendon becomes inflamed. The pain has been described as like the feeling of someone stabbing you in the side of your knee when you run. It can become crippling if not treated correctly.
A few things you can do to help prevent any of these injuries are to make sure you are wearing the correct shoes, check your running surface, as that can have a great impact, keep hydrated and make sure you stretch properly before and afterwards.
Most people love a massage. Not only does it feel fantastic, but it can help speed up your recovery time and reduce muscle soreness, which in turn facilitates the healing process. If you train or run regularly you will not regret adding it to part of your regime. Massage does not have to hurt to be effective and whilst working on a troubled area may cause some discomfort, it certainly shouldn’t leave bruising or cause you to want to jump off the table.
Bodilight offers a range of massages including deep tissue, relaxing and sports massage to cater for your needs. Our highly skilled Therapists can advise you on the best course of action in line with your training schedule. Call us for a free consultation.
Sophie Chalklen Blogger.
