Whether you’re an expert runner, or an amateur, our physiotherapists at Motion Works Physiotherapy Stittsville can help you maintain peak physical shape, or recover from an injury. Our goal is to help you continue to enjoy your running experience!
Where to Start With Your Running Physiotherapy
Your physiotherapist, at Motion Works Stittsville, will start with an initial assessment. During this assessment they will delve into your current physical condition, health history, and goals for physiotherapy, this may include recovering from a running injury, or your current running goals. This will help them gain an understanding of what you are looking for from your sessions to aide your running, which area(s) of the body they will be treating, and if there are any previous injuries or conditions that may affect your progress and/or their treatment plan. From here, they will assess the area of your body they will be focusing on to help you target what is affecting your running. With this information they will be able to curate a treatment plan specifically for you and your running needs! Once they have gotten all the information they need, they will begin treatment the same day, to get started on your running physiotherapy journey.
Physiotherapy Can Help Runners Recover From Injury
If you have sustained an injury while running, physiotherapy can help speed up the recovery process. Depending on the injury, your physiotherapist will be able to tell where the root cause of the issue lies, allowing them to target that specific area that needs treatment. Additionally, they may use tools and devices, such as ultrasounds, electrotherapy, dry needling, or hot or cold packs to aide in the recovery process as well. They may use manual therapy during your sessions to lengthen and relax your muscles, allowing them to assess tension and mobility. This can also give them an indication of your progress being made throughout your sessions.
Your physiotherapist will also recommend specific exercises and adjustments to your routine to ensure you build back up the strength and mobility necessary to get back to running safely. Many runners need to do "off road" strength and functional training exercises to minimize injury risks, without "bulking up". For example, many knee injuries that occur with running, with or without training intensity or terrain changes (hills), are influenced by weak hip abductors and stabilizers.
Finally, they may recommend seeing a massage therapist in addition to the physiotherapy to help your muscles relax and increase blood flow throughout your body. If you have an injury that is impacting your running goals, our physiotherapists are prepared to get you back up to running speed!
Physiotherapy Can Improve Your Running
Not only can our Motion Works Stittsville physiotherapists help you recover from a running injury, but they can also help you proactively! Your physiotherapist can aid with posture and alignment, muscle strength and balance, and flexibility. These aspects of the body are important for runners to consider. Improving in these areas reduces the chance of injury occurring or reoccurring, and could even help you reach your new personal running record!