There are many steps you can take to treat lower back pain when running. However, the first step you’ll need to take is to figure out the source of your pain.
Pain affects the lower backs of more than 31 million Americans at any given time. This pain can be caused by issues like poor posture, gait problems or muscle tension. A physical therapist can help you figure out exactly what is causing your lower back pain. They can then recommend multiple ways to reduce it. Your therapist can even build you a physical therapy plan intended to prevent lower back pain when running.
What you can do to reduce lower back pain when running
A physical therapist will likely ask you questions about your workout habits, and they could also test your gait, or how your legs move when you walk or run. This information could lead them to make several recommendations that can help decrease your lower back pain when running.
Some of these recommendations can include:
- Warming up your legs and core with dynamic movements.
- Alternating running and walking.
- Getting more comfortable shoes.
- Using insoles that can reduce the impact of running.
- Stretching your body thoroughly after each run.
What your physical therapist can do to prevent lower back pain when running
It’s likely that your therapist will seek to go beyond reducing your back pain and work to prevent it. Often, this will be one goal of the personalized running program they build for you. A few of the therapy techniques that could be included in your plan are:
- Therapeutic exercises to boost your strength and flexibility.
- Joint mobilization to improve joint range of motion and alignment.
- Astym® therapy where metal tools are used to break down troublesome scar tissue.
- Gait training designed to modify how you run so that less stress is placed on your lower back.
- Dry needling that can reduce tension in your lower back muscles.
Excel PT offers help for people with lower back pain
Tired of having lower back pain every time you go out for a jog? Our team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy can help you find ways to reduce and prevent your pain. We offer free screenings that can reveal issues that are causing your back pain. Also, our physical therapists are experts at building individualized therapy plans designed to reduce and prevent pain in runners.
Don’t have the time to come into one of our clinics? No worries! You can also check out our virtual therapy and at-home care services.
Contact our team today for more information about the services we offer for back pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
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