How Shockwave Therapy May Help Running Injuries
Updated: Mar 3
Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise, it's easily accessible to put on a pair of trainers, open your front door and go out for a run to keep fit and healthy. If you're on a short time scale and in a rush, you don't have the time to do a lot of exercise in your busy schedule or you find the gym boring and road or trail running much more interesting, then it makes exercise easier and is free to do - unlike monthly subscriptions at the gym.
Running outside has some really good benefits for the body. It is fantastic for your cardiac system and your muscular system and even your mental welfare, as it is a great form of stress relief, but like everything in life, there is usually a downside too.
The issue with road running (or pavement running around London) is it can put a lot of strain on the body physically. Runners frequently face injuries, it is a side effect of the nature of the sport.
In clinic we see running as the number one sport that people come to see us with injuries from. These are generally tendonitis, muscular injuries and stress fracture related issues. Injuries really disrupt your exercise routine, whether you are training for an upcoming event, to stay fit and healthy or just as a mental stress relief from your busy hectic life.
Shockwave therapy may help some people with long-standing (chronic) running injuries; results vary from person to person. If you have a big event coming up, it's worth getting an injury assessed early.
At the time of writing this article, the London Marathon is just over 10 weeks away and we are now seeing an increased amount of marathon runners in clinic with injuries, such as plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, hamstring strains, patella tendonitis and medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints).
Winter training will have been long and tiresome and the amount of miles will have really racked up over the cold-dark season. Peoples bodies have been taking a pounding and the injuries suddenly start to present themselves. There is obviously no good time for an injury but at this stage, so close to the marathon, there isn't really a worse time and you definitely wouldn't want to put in all the hard work for then having to miss the day due to being injured. This is where the Shockwave Therapy Clinic may be able to help you and maybe all is not lost after all?
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave Therapy, also known as extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy sound waves to promote healing of musculoskeletal injuries (MSK). There are two types. Radial and Focused. For more information on the difference between the two, click HERE to read more.
This state of the art technology - which is becoming more and more visible throughout UK clinics now, involves sending acoustic waves to targeted areas of the body (where someone's injury is located), stimulating blood flow and encouraging tissue repair. For runners with long-standing injuries, shockwave therapy may help ease pain and support recovery. Results vary from person to person.
How Shockwave Therapy Works!
The key main benefits of Shockwave therapy in promoting healing:
Increased Blood Flow: Shockwaves enhance circulation, delivering vital nutrients and oxygen to injured areas, which supports healing.
Stimulation of cell repair: the sound waves aim to activate the cells involved in healing tissue.
Pain reduction: shockwaves may interrupt pain signals, and some people notice less pain during a course of treatment.
Breaking down scar tissue: the therapy aims to help break down scar tissue around injuries, which may help with movement and flexibility.
If you're a runner with a long-standing injury, shockwave therapy may be worth discussing with us. If you have an event coming up, talk to us early so there's time for a course of treatment. Results vary from person to person.
Tendonitis is a frequent issue for runners (and other sports also) and occurs when a tendon becomes inflamed. Many runners face tendonitis issues with symptoms including stiffness and pain, which can massively hinder their performance. If not treated, and looked after and someone continues to run with inflamed tendons, then the issue can easily become worse to the point it can develop into a chronic state. This can make it more difficult and longer to heal. Focused shockwave therapy may help some long-standing tendon problems, and it's a good idea to get an injury assessed early. Results vary from person to person.
Common running injuries we treat with Shockwave Therapy are...
Achilles Tendonitis.
The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) to your heel bone (calcaneus). The Achilles tendon is the primary tendon in ankle push off, which is what you do when you walk or run. Achilles tendonitis is inflammation and degeneration of the Achilles tendon. The injured area can also swell. Sometimes pain is in the middle of the Achilles tendon (Mid portion) or pain can develop where the Achilles attaches to the heel bone, known as insertional Achilles tendonitis. Pain is the primary symptom associated with Achilles tendonitis and it can also become thicker on the injured side. Direct pressure onto the tendon or heel can make the pain feel worse.
Plantar Fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the band of fibrous tissue, called the plantar fascia, located on the underneath of your foot. This condition causes heel and arch pain, as well as problems with walking, let alone running. It occurs when the plantar fascia becomes overloaded or overstretched, creating microtears. The plantar fascia is a supporting tendon in the bottom of your foot. It connects the heel to the base of the toes and supports the foot's arch, helping stabilize the foot in every step you take. Plantar fasciitis can be a very painful condition, that is usually characterised by very bad pain and discomfort first thing in the morning. Usually it can be at its worst when getting out of bed when you wake up after a nights sleep.
Patellar Tendonitis and Patellofermoral Pain Syndrome.
Patella tendonitis (also known as jumpers knee) and Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runners knee) are both conditions that affect the knee and can cause a lot of pain and discomfort and stop people doing activities like sports, especially impact sports like running. Knee issues are a very common ailment we see in clinic day-to-day - especially with long distance runners.
Patellar tendonitis affects the connective tissue that joins the patella to the tibia. Runners engaged in high-impact activities often experience this issue. Focused shockwave therapy may help some people with long-standing patellar tendon pain. Results vary from person to person.
Shin Splints - Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS).
Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), commonly called 'shin splints' is a condition in which pain occurs over the shin bone (Tibia) with running or other sports-related activity. It is usually due to overuse and occurs in athletes who participate in repetitive activities, especially running and jumping. The condition can also develop in athletes who have suddenly increased the duration or intensity of their training. It is quite common and occurs more often in females than males.
Medial tibial stress syndrome develops when there is irritation where the calf muscles attach to the shin bone. It can also occur when running on a slanted surface or downhill, or when someone participates in a sport with frequent starts and stops. The pain can range from a dull ache to a sharp, intense pain. Commonly, the pain is located along the inside border of the shin bone, usually in the middle or lower third.
Stress Fractures.
Stress fractures are exactly what their name sounds like — fractures that happen when something puts too much stress on your bone and a tiny crack can then appear, especially in the metatarsals of the feet. They're caused by repetitive force, often from overuse — such as repeatedly jumping up and down or running long distances. Stress fractures can also develop from normal use of a bone that's weakened by a condition such as osteoporosis.
Stress fractures are most common in the weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot. people such as long distances runners are at the highest risk, but anyone can sustain a stress fracture. For example, if you were to start a new exercise program that you're not used to, especially if it involves a lot of high impact movement then you might develop stress fractures if you do too much too soon.
Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathies.
Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy (PHT), also known as high hamstring tendinopathy, is inflammation in the tendons at the back of your thigh. It typically manifests as deep buttock pain at the top of the hamstring into your pelvis. It is very common in runners and can be a very stubborn condition heal.
Hamstring tendinopathy occurs when the tendon is overused or overloaded. The process can occur over many weeks or months, or can happen more rapidly with one, highly intense exercise/activity. It tends to be aggravated by activities such as hill climbing, dancing, cycling or long distance running, but it can also be caused by prolonged compression from sitting or driving.
Calf tears and strains
A calf strain is a tear in the muscle(s) at the back of your lower leg. The calf has two main muscles - the gastrocnemius (the large muscle closest to the surface) and the soleus (which sits deeper behind the gastrocnemius). Both of these muscles are attached to the Achilles tendon.
When you strain your calf muscle you may feel a sudden tearing or stabbing pain. With minor strains you may be able to carry on with your activity, but you may feel tightening and stiffening in your calf muscles. If the strain is severe, the pain may be so bad that you can’t stand on your leg and you may have swelling and bruising in your calf which can spread to your ankle.
Calf muscle tears can be partial or complete (rupture). Calf injuries can occur in all sports but most commonly in the ones that involve running/impact. The lesions occur generally when muscles are fatigued. Gastrocnemius (muscle near the middle of the calf) tears are more common than soleus (closer to the heel) tears.
The Benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Runners...
Incorporating Shockwave Therapy into your recovery routine offers several key advantages:
Non-Invasive
Shockwave therapy doesn't involve surgery or injections, and runners can often start light activities soon after treatment.
Quick Sessions
Each therapy session lasts roughly 25 minutes, which is ideal for people with very busy schedules.
Side effects are usually mild
Most people tolerate Shockwave therapy treatment treatment well, with very few side effects. Some may experience mild soreness or redness afterward, but these effects typically resolve quickly.
Getting Back to Running
The main goal for any athlete is to get back to their sport safely. Shockwave therapy may help some long-standing running injuries. Results vary from person to person.
We also treat other running-related issues like ITB Syndrome and Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) - often known as “runner’s knee”.
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