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HOW TO MANAGE PAIN DURING RUNNING

Feb 8, 2023

DO YOU HAVE PAIN DURING RUNNING?

Running has become the most popular form of physical exercises over the past decade.

It’s all about how to manage pain during running.

Initiatives such as the Park Run have boosted the number of runners on our roads. We at Gav Noble Physiotherapy are glad to see more people become active and improve their physical and mental well-being. However, increased activity levels comes with an increased risk of sustaining an injury. Research into running related injuries suggests that novice runners (less than 1 year running) are more at risk of injury in comparison to experienced runners. The research has also highlighted that 9 in 10 runners training for a full or ½ marathon sustain an injury. 80% of running related injuries are caused by overuse (This is good news because this means they are preventable). The most common areas where running injuries sustained are:

  • Lower Leg (Achilles Tendinopathy, Plantar Fasciitis, Shin Splints, Soleus/Gastroc Strain)
  • Knee (Patellar Tendinopathy, ITB Syndrome, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Meniscal irritation/tear)
  • Hip (Gluteal Tendinopathy, Greater Trochanter Pain Syndrome, Osteitis Pubis, Hamstring/Quad Strain)
  • Lower Back (Mechanical Back Pain, Nerve Irritation)

WHAT IS PAIN?

“An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage,”

There are two main types of pain Acute and Chronic. Acute pain is normally associated with a sudden onset where patients can recall a mechanism of injury or an incident that caused the pain. Acute pain is common in muscle strains, ligament sprains and fractures etc. Chronic or persistent pain is generally associated with a gradual onset. Normally patients cannot recall a mechanism of injury or an incident when the pain first started. Chronic pain is mainly related to overload injuries such as tendinopathies.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE PAIN DURING RUNNING?

Firstly, I would advise that you arrange for a physiotherapy assessment within our clinic. Even if the pain is minor. It is easier to manage low intensity pain rather than pain that has been allowed to prolong and intensify. Secondly it is important to identify which type of pain you have. In cases of Acute pain, where you can recall a sudden onset and a mechanism of injury you should employ the POLICE protocol immediately.  

Protect

Avoid any aggravating activities. This does not involve complete rest or immobilisation. The goal is to prevent further tissue damage. If there is a wound protect it from infection with appropriate bandages

Optimal Loading 

The goal of optimal loading is to stimulate the tissue healing process. Depending on the severity of the injury this could mean non/partial weight bearing or full weight bearing. In most cases of injury complete rest is not ideal for tissue healing. Tissues respond well to load. A general rule to follow is ensuring that your pain does not go above a 4/10 with 10 being the worst pain imaginable (this is not applicable in all cases of injury).

Ice

Cold therapy has been suggested to reduce tissue metabolism and cause a constriction of the blood vessels to reduce swelling. It can also decrease the prorogation of nociceptive nerve stimuli to the brain which can reduce pain.  However, cold therapy is not always required. Cold therapy has been recently suggested to delay the healing response of tissues due to the reduction of inflammation. A general rule to follow is if the injury is beginning to swell and you are in pain greater than 4/10 you should apply cold therapy. The application of ice should be performed for 20 minutes every hour for 2-4 hours initially, ensuring you have a layer between the ice and the skin to prevent burns.

Compression

The goal of compression is to prevent further swelling. You should use an elasticated bandage to provide a comfortable compression without increasing pain or obstructing the blood supply.

Elevate

Elevation is another method of reducing swelling. For appropriate elevation the lower leg should be raised above the level of the pelvis.

Manual therapy treatments can also help reduce the intensity of symptoms within this early stage. However, once the initial symptoms begin to subside it is important that you progress the optimal loading through rehabiliation exercises. Rehabiliation is a gradual process to return you to running in the quickest and safest way possible to prevent injury recurrence.

Chronic pain can be caused by an array of external and internal factors. To identify the cause of chronic pain you should seek a physiotherapy assessment. Common causes of chronic pain is poor biomechanics, muscle imbalance/weakness or training overload etc. Runners have a miss conception of physiotherapists. The main worry of runners is that they will be told to stop running. However, we at Gav Noble like to work with our runners to keep them active. In cases of chronic pain there may be the opportunity to perform low milage while managing the symptoms of injury. We will only advise off-loading from running when the symptoms cannot be managed through reduction of milage.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE:

  • Listen to your body! If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t
  • In cases of Acute pain employ POLICE protocol
  • In cases of Chronic pain reduce miles to manage symptoms
  • Speak to our physiotherapists. It is our goal to keep you running in the best possible shape
  • Orthotics can help improve running mechanics to reduce cases of chronic or intermittent pain

I hope you find this information helpful and if you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me at: info@gavnoble.com. Why not sign up to our online injury prevention for runner workshop due to take place (DATE FOR WORKSHOP).

You can download our frustrated runners report HERE

GOOD LUCK WITH THE TRAINING!

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Physiotherapist
  • Are you comfortable working with different people to achieve their health goals?
  • Are you stuck in a boring job with little chance of learning, development or career opportunity?
  • Do you want a fresh flexible opportunity that will allow you to grow professionally and personally?
  • Our dynamic and fun business is looking for the right person to join the team.

Ideal Characteristics Required 

  • People person
  • Highly motivated
  • Outstanding references
  • You actually want to learn and work

Why work at Gav Noble Physiotherapy? 

  • Join an established, respected and busy set of clinics
  • Excellent work environment with learning opportunities in both Clinical & Business

Skills Required 

  • Commitment to ongoing professional development
  • Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team
  • Practical and able to problem solve
  • Demonstrate ability to market and advertise your skills
  • Able to use a computer
  • Strong musculo-skeletal and manual therapy background
  • Relevant Qualification 

Desirable skills/interest 

  • Manual therapy
  • Pilates training
  • Dry needling
  • Kinesio tape
  • Marketing/Business
  • Previous MSK Private Practice background

Perks

  • Opportunities for developing manual therapy skills.
  • Mixed Caseload
  • Flexibility, accountability, autonomy, transparency
  • Ability to make changes and improvements to clinical practice easily and quickly.
  • Flexibility and freedom to be creative in your approach with patient care
  • Flexible working hours
Client Care Specialist

THIS JOB WILL BE PERFECT FOR YOU IF:

  • Have amazing personal and phone communication skills
  • Have a record of speaking to people at length and the ability to deal with complaints in an empathetic manner
  • An understanding of KPIs in business and the ability to optomise their own performance
  • Help our clients get the best outcomes they can
  • Want to learn on the job and are keen in evolve your current skills
  • Computer and Social Media Literate
  • Able to handle taking payments and managing money

THE OPPORTUNITY:

  • Join a hard working, fun group who enjoy making a difference every day you come into the clinic
  • The opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives and health through communication and education

IF YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF:

  • Helping potential clients determine if our clinic is the right fit for them and their problem?
  • Answering and returning phone calls of potential, current and past clients?

JOB TITLE: Client Care Specialist

  • Are you comfortable with talking to strangers both in person and on the phone?
  • Are you a motivated to learn?
  • Is being “organised” a top priority in your life and are you able to multi-task and prioritize projects, while simultaneously meeting deadlines and prioritizing your day?
  • Can you communicate effectively with people from all different backgrounds – both written and verbal?
  • Are you able to speak up when you see something that is not working and can you anticipate the needs of other people because you show up for work knowing that the smallest details always make the difference?
  • Do you have a positive outlook on life? Are you flexible and open to change, committed to learning?

THE ROLE:

  • You will be responsible for managing a busy front desk and waiting room.
  • experience, meeting and greeting our patients, answering the phone, converting inquires into paying patients and ensuring that all of our patients are looked after and made to feel welcomed whenever they enter your world.
  • Ultimately, your job is to help us grow the revenue of the clinic by booking in new patients via the phone or those who walk into our clinic directly and excelling at retaining those patients as lifelong customers of the business.
  • You’ll do that by creating the type of customer service experience that patients will be happy to pay for – and just as happy to tell others about.

THE TASKS:

  • Communicate the value of our services (in person and on the phone) and be able to explain how what we do, is worth the price we are asking
  • Successfully handle price objections.
  • Hold a lengthy (at least 15-20 minute) conversation with new patients on the phone ensuring that patients are committed and bought into our service.
  • Provide an exceptional waiting room environment for our patients that they’ll look forward to coming back to.
  • Ensure that people who call requesting appointments are placed on schedule and understand the true time and cost commitment involved in physical therapy.
  • Ensure people show up excited for their first appointment after scheduling.
  • Communicate with patients before, during and after appointments to ensure satisfaction is being achieved.
  • Ensure that all invoices are raised on time, every time and are sent to the appropriate person (in house or externally).
  • Organise and plan all schedules – maximising efficiency and revenue for the clinic.
  • Foster deep relationships with patients ensuring NP score hits agreed levels.
  • Develop and regularly update the procedures library so that every aspect of the role is documented and can be achieved by anyone else in the business.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES NEEDED:

  • Be able to hold meaningful conversations with prospective patients on the phone for longer than 20 minutes (empathy).
  • Be able to answer all questions asked on the phone in a such a way that increases the likelihood that the person asking will want to become a customer (insightful and knowledgeable).
  • Recall names and faces of patients and in doing so making all our patients feel welcomed and remembered.
  • Provide a warm and welcoming greeting to patients when they arrive in the clinic (experience).
  • Organisation and planning: plans and organises, schedules and budgets in an efficient, productive manner.
  • Focuses on key priorities.
  • Follow through on commitments: lives up to verbal and written agreements regardless of personal cost.
  • Demonstrate an ability to quickly and proficiently understand and absorb new information.
  • Attention to detail: does not let important details slip through the cracks.
  • Persistence: demonstrate tenacity and willingness to go the distance to get something done.
  • Proactivity: acts without being told what to do.
  • Bring new ideas to the company.

WHAT WE WILL DO FOR YOU:

  • Provide you with ongoing training and support in the field of customer service and front desk administration.
  • Give you an amazing environment to work in that includes working with a team of wonderful and very supportive staff – as well as very
  • friendly customers.
  • Opportunity to develop and grow in a team that is value driven and strongly encourages personality based service.
  • Competitive salary with chance to earn even more as we grow as a result of your impact.

Salary: On Application.

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours.