RunningPhysio

14/07/2025

Running Repairs is coming to Cheshire! Join us for a course that’s packed with clinical gems and practical advice for treating runners that you can apply straight away in clinic. Visit https://www.tickettailor.com/events/runningphysio/1735241 to book your place.

14/07/2025

The 80:20 split is good training option for distance runners but it’s not a recipe for everyone! 🏃🏽‍♀️

For the best results work with a running coach to create a plan tailored to the individual and their goals.

13/07/2025

🗣️Our words can affect pain!

Fascinating new research from and colleagues suggests that how we describe an injury can have an immediate impact on a patient’s symptoms.

Pain during a loading test was higher in when people were told that irreversible structural pathology was the cause of pain, compared to an explanation focusing on reversible changes in muscle function.

This is why I tend to use terms that usually describe a temporary, reversible state to describe running injury such as ‘irritation’ or ‘sensitivity’ caused by excessive training.

I usually avoid terms that focus on more permanent changes that may get worse over time rather than better such as ‘degeneration’, ‘wear and tear’, or ‘damage’.

How do you like to explain injuries to patients? Any words or phrases that you find helpful or would tend to avoid? 🤔

Reference: [See story for study link]
Nigel J Travers, Mervyn J Travers, William Gibson, James R Debenham, Dana A Hince, Benedict M Wand, (2025) The content of diagnostic information has an immediate effect on pain with loading in people with midportion achilles tendinopathy: A randomized clinical experiment, Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy. Volume 29, Issue 5, 2025, ISSN 1413-3555

12/07/2025

Mindfulness practice can help with running injury!

11/07/2025

'Cowboy Walks' are a great exercise for ankle strength and stability. I use them for patients in later-stage ankle sprain rehab and for Peroneal Tendinopathy. They also tend to challenge the Glutes, especially if you take bigger side steps.

10/07/2025

Does marathon running increase arthritis risk? A recent study of 3,804 runners would suggest not!

There are limitations; arthritis prevalence was determined by asking runners if they'd been diagnosed with it by a doctor. See full paper for details DOI: 10.1177/19417381231190876

08/07/2025

🗣️ Our online course is open for enrolment. Visit clinicaledge.co/runningcourse to find out how it will help you assess and treat runners of all levels 🏃🏽‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃🏾‍♂️🏃‍♀️

07/07/2025

Energy needs must be restored *before* starting any strength work in athletes with RED-S. If done so it has multiple potential benefits.

Our graphic summarises recommendations from an excellent recent paper by & colleagues, available here https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/19/7/article-p623.xml

05/07/2025

These 5 strategies can reduce pain during running for conditions like Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome.

Our free video series covers assessment & treatment of shin pain including gait retraining, exercise selection & return to running. Access it now at https://resources.clinicaledge.co/shinpain

03/07/2025

❓How can we progress rehab if symptoms are irritable?

This is a question I encounter regularly in clinic. Lots of people I work with have persistent symptoms that have remained irritable and easy to flare up despite treatment.

The key is often to start with what feels manageable, even if it’s very small. For example I might suggest easy, short hold isometrics to begin with. Just 1 or 2 exercises in a position that feels comfortable.

I follow a similar approach with goal activities, focussing on what people CAN do, no matter how little that might seem initially. I recall one patient with back and leg pain who wanted to cycle. Initially he could only manage a minute on an exercise bike so he started with that. Six months later he cycled London to Brighton (55 miles)!! 🚴‍♂️

If it’s very challenging to find a start point then an analgesic review with a Pain Medication Prescriber may be required to stabilise symptoms and facilitate progressive rehab. At we have the brilliant to refer to for this. It’s surprising how often people will be reluctant to consider pain relief but it’s an important option to explore with severe or irritable symptoms. 💊

Our graphic follows a structured approach that can be used to progress from low level exercises towards heavy, progressive loading to restore strength and plyometrics to enhance power.

It should be adapted to suit individual needs and used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that helps the patient manage and understand their symptoms.

03/07/2025

Cadence is a changeable continuum rather than a magic number (such as 180) that all runners should aim for!! 🏃‍♂️

01/07/2025

Why do runners feel tight?

The last time I raced a 10km I was tight for about 2 weeks! My hamstrings were not happy. They felt achy and solid and would threaten to cramp if I tried to strengthen them.