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.