Reduce Injuries with Post-Marathon Tips and Tricks
Runners undergo a lot of strain while racing. Whether taking on a 100 meter dash or a full marathon, runners need to be careful to avoid injury. Hip, knee and ankle injuries from running can cause daily pain if not treated. Dr. Neal Pollack of the Milwaukee Neurology and Pain Treatment Center has a solution for runners in pain: prolotherapy.
Plantar fasciitis (PF), Achilles tendinitis, hamstring pulls, and iliotibial band syndrome (ITB) are all incredibly common conditions for runners. They are very difficult to treat using traditional pain relief methods. Fortunately, prolotherapy is an alternative treatment option for runners suffering from chronic or acute pain conditions.
How to Reduce Post-Race Pain
- Wear broken-in shoes. Brand new running shoes can subtly change your gait, leading to injuries.
- Warm-up before the run by walking and working your muscles. A little prevention goes a long way with runners.
- Stretch before and after. Treat race day like any other run and remember to stretch once you cross the finish line.
- Take an ice bath post-race. Fill up a tub with cold water and ice cubes and submerge your lower body. This cool refresher will help reduce swelling in your legs.
- Massage your muscles. Use your hands or a foam roller to relax your legs and feet.
- Stay hydrated. Make sure to get plenty of fluids during the race and after.
How to Treat Post-Race Injuries
One pain relief method many runners use is taking a break in order to heal. However, it can take weeks for the body to heal under ideal circumstances. Surgery is sometimes recommended for larger injuries, though runners will need to stop training throughout the post-surgical recovery period.
Cortisone shots are a popular anti-inflammatory used to treat pain from running injuries. Yet frequent shots can actually make injuries worse since they prevent the body from healing through natural inflammation. Over the counter painkillers will also mask the pain without providing any beneficial treatment.
Prolotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) use injections to help the body heal itself. Runners can get back to training sooner than undergoing surgery or physical therapy. As an in-office procedure, patients can get back to their running routines without lengthy hospital stays.