Being a physically active person is great for your mind and body. It can help you relax, release the tension and work on your physical fitness. Therefore, running is one of the best ways to stay in shape and improve your stamina. It’s one of the most well-known cardio exercises that do wonders for your entire body.
However, we mustn’t neglect the possible injuries during our jogging ventures. Believe it or not, running injuries are more common than you think. That’s why you need to learn to recognize them and how to treat them.
1. Pulled muscle
Muscle strain is one of the most common injuries many athletes experience. It occurs when we put too much stress and pressure on our muscles or use them improperly. If you have a pulled muscle, you’ll feel immediate pain in that area, and your motion range will be limited. So, what can you do?
This type of injury occurs after the immediate trauma, not repetitive stress. To heal it properly and completely, you need to let your muscles rest for a couple of days. Take anti-inflammatory pills if they help you reduce the pain and swelling. Once you feel good enough, avoid strenuous exercises and ease back into the game.
2. Twisted ankle
Just like a pulled muscle, a twisted ankle is an acute sprain that happens under certain circumstances, such as losing your balance, falling down, etc. Luckily, most sprained ankles are minor injuries that create short-term pain that will pass in a couple of moments.
So, if you’re able to continue your run after twisting your ankle, do so. Chances are it’s nothing serious. However, if you’re unable to move your ankle in circular motions, and/or notice the redness and swelling, stop with the physical activity immediately. To heal your ankle, put on an ice pack, and rest before you return to the track.
3. Runner’s knee
Do you feel the pain around your knee cap or in your knee? You’re most likely suffering from patellofemoral syndrome, also known as the runner’s knee. It usually occurs when you overuse your kneecaps, especially during running, squatting, and jumping.
It manifests as mild to severe pain and can affect one or both of your knees. To treat this type of injury, it would be best to contact your doctor and rule out all of the other possible causes of your knee pain.
4. Plantar fasciitis
Your feet are also sustainable for injuries while you’re running. One of the most common ones is plantar fasciitis that occurs when you injure the thick layer of tissue in your foot. Look for the signs such as heel or mid-foot pain that is stronger in the morning, burning sensations, pain after activities, and similar.
Treating this type of injury can be tricky as you’ve put too much stress on the tissue in your foot that is used for walking and running. Before you decide to treat it by yourself, consider contacting sports podiatry professionals that will provide you with a suitable treatment for your feet. Only experts can help you overcome complicated foot injuries.
5. Shin splints
One of the most common, yet rarely serious injuries that happen to a lot of runners is shin splints. It manifests as a dull or sharp pain that happens during your running activities or even while you’re resting. The pain is usually located around your shinbone.
You don’t need an expert to treat shin splints. Stop the activities if the pain is interfering with the way you run. Place ice-packs to an injured spot a couple of times a day to prevent inflammation and pain. Most types of shin splints can be resolved through the workout. However, if you feel stronger pain, stop with the exercises immediately.
Conclusion
These are only some of the most common running injuries a lot of active athletes face. It’s always a good idea to know to recognize and how to treat different types of injuries that may occur while you’re training. Don’t forget to take time to recover and ease back in the game.