Running is an excellent way to improve your physical fitness and overall health. It's also an accessible activity that requires minimal equipment and can be done almost anywhere. But it can feel overwhelming when you start figuring out the routine and training intensity that works best for your body. How do you learn what works for you without getting hurt?

Running is a great way to stay fit and healthy, and for many, it becomes more than just a form of exercise. But every runner knows that their favorite sport can also lead to injuries. The repetitive stress on the body can cause various injuries that can affect your performance and limit your ability to train. And any runner who does not incorporate rest into their routine can risk injuring themselves even further. Fortunately, physical therapy can help you recover from these injuries and get back to running safely. We help our runners do this every day at EW Motion Therapy and teach them techniques to prevent more injuries in the future. Even if you decide our services do not fit your needs, you can still read on for our discussion of four common running injuries and how physical therapy can help you recover.

Getting injured is any athlete’s nightmare, especially when an injury can end your season. One of these season-ending injuries that are all too common is a torn ACL. You probably know a football or basketball player who had surgery to repair that ligament - it may even be you.

Think about how your feet feel after a long walk or hike. They hurt a little, right? Typically the pain goes away after resting for a while, but if you continue to have pain in the bottom of your foot, you may have plantar fasciitis. It’s a common condition, especially if you have flat feet or don’t have correctly-fitted shoes. But what can you do? Should you ice it and hope for the best?

When you’re running, pain is likely the last thing you want to think about. But any runner knows that when you are in pain, it’s one of the only things you can focus on. Pain in some areas is ok to run through and work out, but other types, especially foot pain, could point to a more problematic condition or issue than regular soreness. So what do you do when your feet start hurting during a run? Do you have to stop altogether?

If running is one of your primary hobbies, you probably have a routine figured out. You know the mileage you can handle and understand when to push yourself. But even if you don’t realize it, running takes a toll on your body over time, whether you’re a high school track star or a marathoner. Many runners often overtrain simply because they are enjoying themselves or following what their friends are doing. But how do you really figure out how much your body can tolerate? And how do you figure this out before getting hurt?

Updated April 6, 2023. Walking is an underrated exercise with multiple health benefits, and in order to walk for longer distances, you undoubtedly need a reliable pair of shoes. Depending on your goals and budget, it is easy to become overwhelmed when deciding what shoes you need. You could try to order something online, but sometimes ordering off of blind faith does not end in success. So how do you know that you’ve ordered the right shoes the first time?

Updated January 7, 2025.

If you begin having foot pain, you could try to fix it in a few different ways. You could try to get new shoes, or you could get some orthotic inserts for your current shoes. You could go to the store and buy inserts, or if you feel that you need something more intensive, you could get custom orthotics. But how do you get them made? And how much will you pay for them?

When you want to buy new running shoes, it is easy to become overwhelmed with options. You could order a new pair online, but unless you know exactly what you wear, buying shoes off blind faith does not always work out well. Since running shoes are so vital to your sport, it is usually best to go to the store and try them on. If you live in Tuscaloosa, it is easy to find a running shoe store close by, but difficult to choose just one to visit. Where should you go?