Running Injury Treatment

Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise, but it also comes with a high injury rate — studies show that 50 to 80 percent of runners experience an injury each year. Most running injuries are overuse conditions caused by training errors, biomechanical issues, or strength deficits rather than acute traumatic events.

Common running injuries we treat include:

• Runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain) — pain around or behind the kneecap
• IT band syndrome — sharp pain on the outside of the knee
• Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome) — pain along the inside of the shin
• Achilles tendinopathy — pain and stiffness in the Achilles tendon
• Plantar fasciitis — heel or arch pain, especially with the first steps in the morning
• Stress fractures — localized bone pain that worsens with impact
• Hip flexor and hamstring strains — muscle pain that limits stride length or speed

Each of these conditions has identifiable risk factors — from hip weakness to training volume errors — that can be addressed through targeted rehabilitation to resolve the current injury and reduce the risk of recurrence.

We do not just treat the symptom — we find out why you got hurt and fix that too. Treatment at The Back Clinic addresses both the injury itself and the underlying factors that caused it:

• Running gait analysis — Observing your running form to identify mechanics that increase tissue stress and contribute to your specific injury pattern
• Strength testing and correction — Assessing hip, knee, ankle, and core strength deficits that are common contributors to running injuries and building a targeted strengthening program
• Training load review — Evaluating your mileage, intensity, and recent progression to identify training errors that may have triggered the injury
• Progressive loading program — Evidence-based rehabilitation that gradually reintroduces running stress to promote tissue healing and adaptation
• Gait retraining — When appropriate, coaching cadence, step width, foot strike, or other running form modifications supported by current research
• Return-to-run protocol — A structured walk-run progression with clear milestones for safe return to your previous training volume

Every session at The Back Clinic is one-on-one with your physical therapist — never handed off to aides or shared with other patients. This individualized approach allows for detailed gait analysis, hands-on treatment, and real-time coaching that you cannot get in a group setting or with a generic exercise sheet.

Your evaluation includes running-specific functional testing, strength assessment, flexibility screening, and when possible, a running gait evaluation. We also review your training history and any recent changes in mileage, shoes, surface, or intensity that may have triggered the injury. Wear your running shoes and comfortable clothing to your first visit.

Most running injuries respond well to a combination of targeted strengthening, load modification, and a gradual return-to-run progression. The typical recovery period is four to eight weeks, though this varies by condition and severity. Our goal is always to get you back to running — not to keep you away from it.

Whether you are training for a 5K or an ultramarathon, we build a rehabilitation plan that accounts for your goals, timeline, and running history so you can return to training with confidence.

Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover physical therapy for running injuries. You do not need a referral to start treatment in Delaware. Call (302) 529-1900 or schedule online to book your evaluation.