Physiotherapy after a Running Injury

The annual Ealing Half Marathon is expected to attract about 6,000 runners in 2014. This year's event will take place in September and will benefit the Alzheimer's Society. This early, some runners are already training for the event, to ensure they will be in good physical shape by then.

However, while in training, these athletes become prone to injuries. Among the most common injuries for runners is the aptly named runner's knee, which is typically brought on by repeated bending of the knees, where the kneecap nerves have been irritated or the tendons overstretched. Symptoms of this injury include swelling and pain in the knee areas when walking, squatting, kneeling, sitting and, of course, running.

Treatments for runner's knee injury include rest, compression, and stretching and strengthening exercises. In some cases, pain medications like ibuprofen can help minimize the pain. However, if such treatments barely have any effect, physiotherapy may be considered.

A physiotherapy program includes the application of techniques like manual or hands-on therapy to restore balance, strength, and mobility so the injured person can return to running again. Under manual therapy, the therapist applies the right amount of stress and friction to massage the affected area. Manual therapy is usually composed of a series of sessions to achieve the desired results.