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When a runner walks into the clinic with knee pain, we must look at the knee and the surrounding structures and tissues. What seems like a knee issue often started higher up—or lower down—the chain. And if you’re only chasing the pain, you’ll probably miss the real problem. Running injuries don’t come out of nowhere. They almost always stem from a combination of factors: a training change made 4–6 weeks ago, a sleep deficit, nutritional gaps, higher stress, or simply movement

Persistent discomfort along the outside of the ankle can be a real problem for runners, especially those who log high mileage on uneven terrain. This pain might be peroneal tendinopathy, an overuse injury involving the peroneal tendons, which are crucial for stabilizing the foot during running. Without proper management, peroneal tendinopathy can cause compensations in gait, increase the risk of other injuries, and keep you off the road longer than you’d like. What Are the Pe

Every runner has asked it: “Is this just normal soreness… or am I about to get injured?” It’s a fine line—and knowing how to read your body can be the difference between a breakthrough and a breakdown. Here’s the truth: pain doesn’t always mean stop—but it also doesn’t mean “keep grinding.” The key is knowing what type of pain you're dealing with, where it’s coming from, and how it behaves. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS): The “Good” Kind of Pain DOMS is that familiar mu

Running in the summer can feel like a slow roast. Whether you’re chasing race goals or just trying to stay consistent, heat and humidity throw some serious variables into your training. But this isn’t just about comfort—training in hot, humid conditions can be dangerous if you’re not prepared. The risks are real: heat illness, dehydration, and performance collapse can sneak up quickly if you’re not watching for early signs. That’s why learning how to adjust your pacing, hydra

There’s no such thing as perfect running form. That’s not just a catchphrase, it’s backed by both research and clinical experience. Your form isn’t fixed. Your stride, foot strike and posture all shifts depending on your pace, terrain, level of fatigue, and even how well you slept last night. And that’s not a problem. In fact, it’s how the body distributes stress and adapts to different demands. Understanding how your stride changes can help you train smarter, reduce injury r

Runners are creatures of habit. Whether it’s a standing sunrise loop or a late-day stress reliever, your training schedule likely follows a rhythm. But have you ever wondered if that rhythm actually matters for performance or injury risk? Turns out, it does. When you run affects more than just your calendar it influences energy metabolism, sleep quality, tissue stiffness, and even injury risk. So let’s break down what the science says, and what you can do with it. The Science

Ankle sprains are injuries runners commonly struggle with, and most runners don’t stop running, even when they should. I get it—you don’t want to lose your progress, miss you morning run with your friends or miss a training day. But ignoring an ankle sprain can lead to bigger problems down the road. When you sprain your ankle, the ligaments get overstretched or torn, and some research says that your glutes may even "shut down", making it harder to stabilize your lower body. T

Let’s get one thing straight: warming up is not optional. But it’s also not just jogging slowly for five minutes or swinging your legs around a few times. A proper warm-up primes your body for performance, helps prevent injury, and sets the tone for the entire run. And yet, most runners either skip it, rush through it, or do the wrong kind of prep altogether. Here’s what the research — and years of working with runners at every level — says about getting it right. What a Good

Heart Health is just important for runners! Photo credit: Sarah Jane Foreman February is Heart Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about cardiovascular health. As this month comes to a close I wanted to share my story to highlight that no matter how healthy we are we are not invincible. As runners, we pride ourselves on being strong, disciplined, and resilient. We push through discomfort, chase PRs. But the truth is, being fit does not make us immune to heart diseas

Getting back to running after an injury isn't always easy. Being cleared to run is only the first part of the equation. Once you are cleared you must make sure your body is ready to accept the load, mentally you are ready and that you know how to progressively introduce the running stimulus! This is something I love to help runners with. Unfortunately most runners are so excited to get back to running they don't think about the how! You don’t just jump back into your old mil

If you’re a runner dealing with low back pain, chances are someone’s told you it’s just “tight hamstrings.” Maybe you’ve been stretching, foam rolling, or doing yoga and still, the annoying aching or pain is there every single mile. Tight hamstrings certainly can be part of the issue, but they aren't typically the whole problem. And stretching them more isn’t always the fix. Low back pain in runners is common. It’s usually a sign that something upstream or downstream in you

You’re training smart, eating well, doing all the “right” things but your runs feel flat, your body feels heavy, and your motivation’s dipping. Sound familiar? Runners typically blame this on training, but it might actually be something else - your nervous system. Runners are often hyper-aware of physical load, but we tend to overlook the mental and emotional load we’re carrying. The body doesn’t separate physical and psychological stress it all gets processed through the sam

Low energy availability (LEA) happens when you don’t eat enough to support both your training and your basic body functions. It’s not about being hungry or tired. LEA can happen to any athlete even if they are trying to fuel enough. LEA happens when an athlete is under eating relative to what their body needs, and it shows up in more ways than you think. Most runners dealing with LEA aren’t doing it on purpose. Some are trying to “eat clean” or cut sugar. Others just don’t re

Hip flexors are one of those things runners love to blame. Tight hips. Short strides. Low back pain. Fexors are rarely the only issue, they play a meaningful role in how we run and how problems can start to show up. The hip flexors are a group of muscles that help advance the leg during running. After your foot leaves the ground, they help bring the thigh forward so you can take your next step. They also assist with pelvic and trunk control, helping manage the forces that tra

Every time one of my athletes or friends say they do clamshells to help with their glute strength I want to scream. Clamshells have a place in rehab, especially post-surgery or for individuals who are just beginning to engage in exercise. But for runners, clamshells are not enough. Running demands dynamic, upright, and single-leg control. Clamshells are performed lying on your side, in a non-weight bearing position, and they do not train the glutes the way they're used during

Most runners don’t realize they’re overstriding. It often shows up when you are trying to run faster, increase mileage, or push through fatigue. But when your foot lands too far out in front of your body, you increase braking forces and slow yourself down. You also increase the risk of common overuse injuries. Overstriding happens when your foot strikes the ground ahead of your center of mass, typically with a more extended knee and a heel-first contact. This position increas

If you have been told to "just stop running" because of an injury then you may have been given poor advice. Rest may calm symptoms, but it doesn’t solve your injury. Pain relief is simply a reduction in irritation, but it does not mean your tissues aren't ready to handle the demands of running. Some injuries do better if you continue to load them in a modified way, such as tendinopathies. You do have to stop running with a bone stress injury, but you can do things like core s

Photo by Alan Lam I love running. I hate telling people they can't run. Running is great exercise and it is so beneficial for both mental and physical health. But if you run long enough, chances are you will deal with pain or injury at some point. As a physical therapist who works with runners every day, these are the five most common questions runners ask about running injuries and answers that can help you to stay healthy and keep running. 1. "Why do my knees hurt when I ru

Sometimes the first few minutes of a run feel stiff or painful, but after a mile or two the discomfort settles down and the run actually feels better. What does this mean? As a running physical therapist working with runners in Atlanta, this is something I hear fairly often: “If the pain goes away during the run, is it okay to keep running?” In many cases, the answer is yes, but with the right modifications. It depends on the type of tissue involved and how the pain behaves d

Runners are really good at brushing off pain or discomfort and convincing themselves they are fine even when they are in pain. Its because as runners we are taught to push through things. That’s part of the sport. Long runs get uncomfortable. Workouts get hard. There are days where nothing feels great but you get it done anyway and that’s often where progress happens. remember the saying, "no pain, no gain?" But somewhere along the way, that mindset gets doesn't make sense an