A Growing Community of Runners in Therapy
There's a growing community of runners who incorporate therapy into their workout regimen. From preventing injuries to training for races, physical therapists can help all types of runners stay healthy and reach their goals. Running therapy itself is a relatively unstudied practice that may offer mental health benefits, though athletes and individuals prone to self-destructive behavior shouldn't self-administer it.
Physical Therapy for Runners
Physical therapy is an invaluable asset for runners of all levels, helping to prevent injuries, prepare for races, and recover from them. Physical therapists treat a wide range of musculoskeletal issues affecting the lower body, knee and hip pain, plantar fasciitis, iliotibial band syndrome, sore calves, stress fractures, and more. They also help runners develop and maintain effective training habits, including strength and flexibility training, determining the proper load for a runner's body, and devising efficient, safe running mechanics. A physical therapist may also suggest footwear, foot exercises, icing techniques, and orthopedic shoe inserts to reduce the risk of injury and keep runners healthy for years to come.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger point therapy is a form of physical therapy often used by runners to reduce pain and muscle tightness. A physical therapist applies pressure to release trigger points, knotted, tight, rigid areas of muscle, and uses other techniques to restore normal movement, reduce discomfort, and enhance function. Runners often seek trigger point therapy for pain in the IT band, calf strains, or hamstring injuries; applying pressure to the muscle repeatedly helps it relax, loosening knots and increasing blood flow, which may reduce inflammation and pain. Trigger points sit within the fascia, the sheath-like fibrous tissue surrounding muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and nerves, which normally stays elastic but can become inelastic when injured by poor posture or repetitive movement.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Runners who experience anxiety, depression, stress, or other mental health conditions may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which works to identify negative thoughts and beliefs contributing to the issue and replace them with healthier attitudes and behaviors. CBT is a widely researched treatment shown to be effective for various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, sleep issues, and addiction, and it encourages individuals to take action and learn new coping techniques that build hope and drive toward recovery. When looking for a therapist, it's worth finding someone you feel comfortable and secure with, recommendations from a primary healthcare provider, friend, or family member can help.
Counseling and Sport Psychology
Counseling encourages individuals to talk through their problems and build an action plan for moving forward, offering a secure space to express emotions like anger, guilt, fear, or resentment without judgment. Sport psychology, specifically, can help runners enhance their training and avoid injury hazards, having a clear sense of why you started running can keep you motivated even when training doesn't go as planned. Runners should also be kind to themselves when they miss a training day or fall short of a goal: progress is made incrementally, one step at a time.