Penn Running and Endurance Sports Program Patient Testimonial
In this video, patient Patrick recounts his personal experience being treated by the Penn Running and Endurance Sports Program.
Conditions Treated by the Penn Running and Endurance Sports Program
Running injuries are commonly caused by overuse. This is particularly true in individuals who have been running for several years or who run longer distances. Sometimes, a person has lived with an injury for a long time, or they may suffer an acute injury. We diagnose and treat all types of running injuries, which typically occur from the spine down, including:
Diagnosing Injuries at the Penn Running and Endurance Sports Program
All runners who come to our program undergo a thorough assessment to diagnose their injury and any underlying condition that may be to blame. This process begins with a comprehensive assessment of the patient's medical and running history to determine what the cause of the problem may be. We then conduct a multi-faceted physical exam to assess strength, flexibility and mobility in order to understand the severity of the injury and how it affects overall function. Imaging tests may also be used to view structures such as bones, joints, tendons, or ligaments.
Treatments and Services Offered by the Penn Running and Endurance Sports Program
Once a diagnosis has been made, we work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan that is specific to your injury and goals.
Sports Medicine Treatment
For most overuse injuries, our sports medicine specialists will recommend a period of rest to reduce the load on your body, as well as pain control, such as ice, medications, or injections based on the condition. Injections may include cortisone injections, trigger point injections for muscular conditions, or platelet rich plasma treatment.
After completing your sports medicine treatment, your specialist may refer you to a surgeon, if needed, or to a physical therapist. Our sports medicine specialists work hand in hand with physical therapists to develop optimal rehabilitation plans for our patients.
Surgery
Depending upon the severity and source of your injury, you may be referred to a surgeon at Penn Orthopaedics or another Penn Medicine surgical specialist as necessary for treatment.
After surgery, our physical therapists will ensure you receive the post-operative care you need to not only recover, but in many cases, return to running.
Physical Therapy
In nearly every case, physical rehabilitation is part of the treatment plan. Patients who receive physical rehabilitation through Good Shepherd Penn Partners work with physical therapists who are specifically trained to care for runners.
The rehabilitation process begins with patients completing a detailed questionnaire so that we can gain a thorough understanding of your running history. Then, a physical evaluation is completed to identify any areas of physical weakness or instability. Patients will be asked to run on a treadmill so that we can conduct a running gait analysis. We use a video recording software to record your movements and then review the footage frame by frame — looking at things such as cadence and strike pattern — to quantitatively determine where there may be opportunities for improvement.
Depending upon your injury and the results of this evaluation, your treatment plan may include:
- Lower body and core strengthening exercises
- Balance and stability exercises
- Running-specific plyometric training
- Soft tissue mobilization
- Blood flow restriction training (BFRT)*
- Training technique counseling
- Overall health and wellness guidance
*BFRT is only available at select sites
Performance Enhancement
Runners who want to gain an edge in their sport or who are just starting out and want to "do things right," may benefit from our performance enhancement services. We will work with you to identify your running goals and then determine the steps you need to take to achieve them. This process is led by Good Shepherd Penn Partners physical therapists.
Using the information gathered through this process, we will develop a comprehensive performance plan that you can incorporate into your regular training.