Common Running Injuries as We Approach the NYC Marathon

Now that the temperature is dropping, taking your morning jog in central park, the west side, or the Hudson river green-way or any other runner frequented pathways on Manhattan pavement seems like business as usual but with a few more layers for warmth. Especially now, with the New York City Marathon fast approaching, there are going to be a lot of people getting their last few days of training in. However, if every step on your outdoor run is making your shins, knees, and calves burn—even when exercising the same distance, Is running just hurting your body, and leading to injuries?

Running through Manhattan can be dangerous for your body especially if you’re used to running on a treadmill’s soft, shock-absorbing surface. Does pain shoot up through your shins with every step you take? Did you roll your ankle on an uneven surface? Maybe you find yourself limping on your run because of knee pains, or your lower back could be tight from a mechanical imbalance in your step. Whatever the source, your injury should be treated as soon as possible.

The sharp pain and soreness from running could be among numerous injuries, including:

- Medial tibial stress syndrome, compartment syndrome, and stress fractures (shin splints)

- Patellofemoral syndrome (runner’s knee)

- Iliotibial band syndrome (a thigh injury causing knee pain)

- Strained calves

- Ankle sprains

- Snapping hip syndrome

- Pulled hamstring

- Dislocating kneecap

- Plica syndrome (irritation and/or inflammation of the knee)

- Achilles tendonitis


This list might seem daunting, but with proper treatment, your days of outside running don’t have to end. Located in the heart of Soho, Living Well Medical provides patients treatments in massage therapy, physiotherapy, and chiropractic—all under the same roof.

Quick tips for injury prevention:

First, take preventative measures. Wear appropriate running shoes that can absorb shock from your feet hitting the pavement. Proper running shoes will prevent this impact making its way up to your shins. Over time, wearing improper shoes can add stress to your lower back.

If you sprain your ankle on a run, keep as much pressure off of the injured ankle as possible. Keep the ankle elevated while resting and icing in 1- -15-minute increments to decrease muscle inflammation. Rest and icing goes for other injuries, as well. Avoid putting strain on the muscle, and make an appointment to be treated by a professional at Living Well Medical.

Types of treatment for injuries:

Living Well Medical will assess your injury to give you the best treatment possible. By using our in-house x-ray machine, along with ultrasound, cold laser and early mobilization techniques the recovery time can be greatly reduced. Depending on the level and degree of your injury, the experts will use massage therapy and gentle manipulation to treat your ankle or knee injury and get you back to training, with a reduced chance for re-injury. 

Living Well Medical also offers the Graston Technique, which is very effective for running-related injuries. As a Instrument Assisted treatment, the technique is useful for diagnosing and repairing skeletal and connective tissue, just like the injuries that you may develop by running outdoors. This technique can help reduce adhesions and scar tissue build up from years of training and help the body repair and rebuild itself.

Chronic Back Pain: Herniated Disc

If you have been suffering with chronic back pain and/or leg pain or if you are experiencing tingling, weakness, or numbness down the leg, you may be suffering from a  herniated or bulging disc in your spine. A herniated disc can be very painful depending on a few factors like age, the condition  of the disc, and the severity of the injury. 

For people that have severe, unrelenting pain in their back, leg, or shooting pains, it can turn every day chores and routine tasks in to a major obstacle. 

You can find fast, non-invasive pain relief from visiting a Chiropractor in NYC. Manhattan is, in fact, a hub of chiropractic practitioners, but you want fast relief, and unparalleled results you want to go to the best most reputable chiropractors in New York. Dr. Steven Shoshany has been helping people get out of pain for well over 10 years, and his spinal decompression center uses the latest technology, proven to get results and relieve pain. 

By decompressing the spine and letting the intervertebral disc heal naturally, you can naturally, safely start back on the road to recovery, without pain pills. For those  people in sever pain who can not undergo chiropractic treatment of physical therapy, he also offers interventional pain management solutions like epidurals or facet bloc injections, at his integrated practice on Broadway, in Manhattan. 

Usually bones in the spine (the vertebrae) have sufficient cushioning from intervertebral discs, these spinal discs are rubbery and contain a gel like fluid that acts as a shock absorber, and cushion between each vertebrae. Sometimes, as a result of acute trauma, or chronic postural issues, deconditioning, or general wear and tear, these discs can herniate or bulge, and impinge the nerves housed in the spine. This can result in an excruciating amount of pain, depending on the severity of the herniation. Some people who have herniated discs will show no symptoms at all because the herniation may not be severe enough to interfere with nerve activity. 

If you are currently experiencing back and leg pain, or may be concerned about your back health. You can schedule a free consultation and get all the answers that you are looking for. You don't have to suffer through pain for long periods of time or be pumped full of medication (often with awful side effects) just to function every day. Contacting a chiropractor or your doctor as soon as possible is very important so that if you already have a herniated disc, its not made worse by just waiting. 

Take action today, you don't have to be in pain, there are qualified healthcare professionals that specialize in getting people out of pain, and they help people with herniated discs every day.