Running is the world’s most popular physical activity. However, it is also associated with a higher risk of overuse injuries than other forms of aerobic exercise such as cycling or swimming.
If you’ve been a runner for long enough, chances are you’ve experienced an injury at some point.
Most chronic running injuries can be treated non-surgically with a combination of non-invasive techniques. Lower-limb injuries are most common with the knee (28%), ankle-foot (26%), and lower leg (16%) accounting for the highest rate of issues. A recent analysis found patellofemoral pain syndrome, Achilles tendinopathy, and medial tibial stress syndrome ( “shin splints”) to be the most frequently diagnosed.
At Avid Sports Medicine we’ve had great success treating running injuries with therapeutic exercises and Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT), also known as shockwave therapy.
How can EPAT help my chronic running injury?
Runners are often told to take time off to treat their injuries. However, our mantra is that rest doesn’t equal healing. EPAT treatment harnesses your body’s own regenerative potential to heal injuries.
EPAT sessions take less than 15 minutes and treatments are repeated weekly for 4-6 weeks with little to no downtime. EPAT operates by sending sound waves to the epicenter of your pain. These sound waves induce blood flow and signal the body to:
- Reduce pain
- Increase circulation and metabolism
- Stimulate tissue and bone growth
- Reduce muscle tension
- Dissolve calcium deposits
What specific areas have had the most success with EPAT?
We’ve seen improvements in a variety of musculoskeletal injuries surrounding the hip, knee, ankle, and foot. These include:
Avid Sports Medicine is the only Bay Area Sports Medicine clinic that offers shockwave therapy in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Case Example
One of our most successful cases with EPAT is in a master’s athlete who is a professional ultramarathoner. Prior to receiving shockwave therapy at Avid, this patient had tried many treatment strategies for chronic heel pain. Below are a few details of their injury history:
- Heel pain for three years
- Hadn’t run in over a month due to pain
- Previously ran about 200 miles/week on trails and road
- Cross-trained with yoga, weight lifting, and indoor cycling
Our complete assessment, which included diagnostic ultrasound to look directly at the area of pain, concluded that this patient was experiencing Achilles tendinopathy, a chronic injury that leads to pain, tendon thickening, and stiffening.
Through our team-based care approach, Dr. Jow performed six EPAT sessions over a six-week period and our Head Athletic Trainer designed a customized training program. By week three, this athlete was able to gradually return to running, increasing mileage steadily under the direction of our team. For a comprehensive return to running program, we also offer gait analysis and foot mapping to address underlying issues and prevent a recurrence.
Find out if shockwave therapy/EPAT is right for you
Avid Sports Medicine is the only Bay Area Sports Medicine clinic that offers shockwave therapy in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you’re been experiencing an acute or chronic running injury, schedule a free consultation today. Dr. Jow will listen to your condition and discuss if our clinic is a good fit for you before scheduling an appointment. During this initial visit, she determines whether shockwave therapy is the right treatment to get you back on track.