If you are a regular runner, you are fully aware that injuries are bound to happen at some point. Running can be a great way to lose weight, lower your blood pressure, combat heart disease, and reduce stress.
However, new runners often wonder how to heal injuries quickly before training stops their progress. Even veteran runners want to maintain their progress.
When it comes down to it, there’s no way to avoid running injuries completely. You can, however, take some preventative measures to reduce the risk.
Read on to learn how to recover after sustaining injuries from running and get back in shape in no time.
Take Some Time Off
If you’re injured from running, taking some time off is essential to let your body heal. However, you don’t want to take too much time off, or you’ll lose your fitness. How much time you need depends on the severity of the injury.
A slight injury may only require a week or two of rest, while a more serious one could require several weeks. Once you’re feeling better, try running and increase your mileage slowly.
Apply Ice and Compression
The best way to heal a running injury is to apply ice and proper compression as soon as possible. It will help to decrease the swelling and speed up the healing process. Elevating the injured part will also help to reduce the swelling.
You may need to take some pain medication if the pain is severe. Once the pain has subsided, you can resume your running activities.
Have Gentle Workouts
Start with gentle workouts, like walking or swimming, and gradually build up your mileage and intensity. Be sure to warm up and cool down before and after your runs. Don’t push yourself too hard too soon, or you’ll risk reinjuring yourself.
Get Physical Therapy
A physical therapist or a running physiotherapist can help you identify the root cause of the problem and create a plan to get you back to running. They can help you improve your range of motion, strengthen the muscles around your injury, and improve your flexibility. They can also teach you how to improve your running technique to avoid future injuries.
Check out Health Collab to collaborate with a physiotherapist for your recovery. You can surely get your best condition back by working with a specialist.
Get Surgery for Serious Injuries from Running
Surgery is often not the first line of treatment for running injuries. Doctors usually try conservative measures like rest, icing, and physical therapy before recommending surgery. However, if those treatments don’t work, surgery may be the best option.
It’s essential to choose a surgeon with experience in treating runners. Not all surgeons know the types of injuries runners experience, so do your research.
Treat Running Injuries Immediately for a Faster Recovery
Injuries from running are a fact of the sport. But don’t let an injury keep you from running again. With the proper care, you can be back on your feet in no time.
So if you’re feeling pain after a jog, don’t ignore it. See a specialist and follow their advice on how to treat your injury.