‘Tis the season for warm weather, sunshine and getting into shape. You may be training for a 5K, 10K, or triathlon, playing pick up soccer or just “going out for a run”. It is important that you pay attention to your body and what you are experiencing.
Deena Kastor, the American record holder for the marathon says “Running isn’t always comfortable. I remember running through a lot of discomfort and pain. The trick in listening to your body is to know what you run through. If you have sharp pain, you should take care of it.” (Gina Kolata, The Times, June 24, 2009).
Kastor is right. We do get pain every now and then while doing certain activities, however it is important to understand your pain. For instance, where on your body is the pain located? When do you get the pain? What type of pain (sharp, dull ache, shooting, tingling, etc) and Why? The why part may be challenging for you to figure out, but with the help of licensed medical professionals like physical therapists, you can get to the bottom of your pain.
If you ignore the pain signals from your body and continue to run or play your sport, this may cause more harm than not. Overuse, repetitive injuries are common. If you continue to have pride and ignore the pain, serious injury could develop and set you back from training or enjoying a run along the Charles River. The pain will most likely turn in to a compensatory movement, causing injuries in other parts of your body. For instance, if you have onset of knee pain and continue to push through the pain, you may begin to alter your running gait and develop pain in your hips and ankles. Our bodies work as a chain. It is easy to compensate above and below the injury site.
Once again, it is important to listen to your body. If you have any concerns about your knees or other parts of your body it is important to make an appointment with your physician. Your physician may refer you to a licensed physical therapist to help evaluate, diagnose, and design a plan of care to help you return to full, pain-free level of function.
