Whether you lot're an ultra marathon runner, participate in the occasional 5k, or are a hopeful beginner, running injuries happen. Sustaining a running injury can be both scary and frustrating. Knowing which injuries are the well-nigh common amid runners, tips on preventing them, and what to do if they happen can go a long manner in easing your mind.

In spring 2017, an estimated 65 one thousand thousand Americans went for a jog or run—that's impressive. In honor of Global Running Day, taking place on June half-dozen, 2018, Solv has compiled a list of 9 mutual running injuries that tin can be treated at urgent intendance.

What is Global Running Day?

Before we dive into some mutual running injuries that can be treated at urgent intendance, let's hear from the Global Running Solar day organization on what they're all well-nigh:

"Global Running Day is a worldwide commemoration of running that encourages everyone to get moving. It doesn't matter how fast y'all run or how far you become—what'due south important is that you take part, and how you practise it is up to you. Run a lap effectually your block, take your dog for a long walk, or call your friends for a pick-up game in the park. The important thing is that you accept fun being agile—and you inspire others to join you."

Each year, runners from around the world pledge to take office in Global Running Mean solar day. If you're interested in making your own pledge, you can do that hither.

Are running injuries common?

Running injuries are, unfortunately, quite common. In fact, co-ordinate to Running Stats, 65% of all runners are injured within a given year. To make matters worse, l% of running injuries are recurring—pregnant the same injury happens over and over again.

While statistics like this may make you want to look for a lower touch on class of exercise (water aerobics, anyone?), you don't need to let them deter you lot from running. Instead, let them serve as motivation to learn proper running techniques, listen to your torso, and see a md when something is wrong (fifty-fifty if it seems minor).

ix running injuries that tin exist treated at urgent care

Running Stats, along with several other running organizations, keep a shut centre on reported injuries from runners. Paying attention to the injuries that occur most often allows experts to recommend methods for injury prevention and recovery. Below, learn almost the 9 near common running injuries.

Running injury 1: Runner's knee

Runner'due south human knee, likewise called chondromalacia, is not a human knee injury in itself simply, rather, a term used to describe whatsoever of several conditions that cause pain around the kneecap or patella. These conditions include anterior human knee pain syndrome, patellofemoral malalignment, chondromalacia patella, and iliotibial band syndrome.

According to research from the Harvard Medical Schoolhouse, women (especially women who are of middle age) are more prone to getting runner's knee joint than men. People who are overweight are besides more likely to develop an injury that falls under the runner's knee nomenclature.

With over 200,000 cases in the Usa per year, runner'due south knee is an incredibly common running injury.

Tin runner's articulatio genus exist treated at urgent care?

Yes, runner's knee, like nigh physical injuries, can be treated at urgent intendance. In addition to recommending that you follow the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation), your urgent care physician or physician'due south assistant will likely recommend specific physical therapy exercises, besides as prescribe you the a hurting medication, such every bit naproxen.

Running injury ii: Achilles tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is inflammation of the Achilles tendon, located on the back of the heel. This running injury is typically caused by repetitive stress to the tendon, though tight calf muscles and bone spurs can make inflammation more than likely. Similar to runner's human knee, over 200,000 cases of Achilles tendinitis are diagnosed in the U.South. each year.

Can Achilles tendonitis be treated at urgent care?

Achilles tendonitis does require a medical diagnosis and can often require surgical handling if left untended to for a long period of fourth dimension. Nonetheless, if y'all just began experiencing symptoms of Achilles tendonitis, you tin go to urgent care for short-term handling. Information technology's of import non to ignore symptoms—sports injuries left untreated often go worse.

Running injury 3: Plantar fasciitis

More than iii million Americans become plantar fasciitis each year, with women experiencing it more than men. The thick, gristly band of tissue, called fascia, that runs from your heel to your toes, supports the muscles and curvation of your foot. If they go overly stretched, tiny tears tin can occur, causing pain and inflammation. This is what is known equally plantar fasciitis.

Unsupportive running shoes or excessive running can be major contributors to this running injury.

Can plantar fasciitis be treated at urgent care?

If y'all suspect you might have plantar fasciitis, you should book a visit at a local urgent care. Your doctor will be able to examine your foot to determine the origin of the pain and devise a handling plan that's right for you. Handling for plantar fasciitis is often a combination of steroid injections, physical therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Running injury 4: Shin splints

Shin splints are a cumulative stress disorder, that happen due to repeated pounding and stress on the bones, muscles, and joints of the lower legs. The term shin splints refers to pain forth the front of your shin bone, normally betwixt the knee and talocrural joint. Healthcare professionals also call this running injury medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS). If you lot think you have shin splints, you lot should terminate running right away.

Tin shin splints be treated at urgent intendance?

Treatment for shin splints tin usually be done at dwelling. Elevating and icing your legs, taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, and using a foam roller on your legs tin can all help improve shin splints. While it's typically non necessary to go to urgent care for shin splints, if you lot experience that they aren't improving, this could be a good option.

Running injury 5: Stress fracture

Unlike a regular fracture, stress fractures are caused by repeated mechanical stress, not sudden touch on. People who run long distances are most likely to develop stress fractures. If a stress fracture isn't treated, it can lead to more serious, long-term injuries including a broken bone or arthritis. The last thing a runner needs is a broken leg!

Tin a stress fracture exist treated at urgent intendance?

The most common treatments for mild stress fractures are tiptop and residual. However, if your stress fracture is particularly bad, yous can go to urgent care to accept the bone immobilized with a sprint or bandage. Be certain to let your doctor know about all of your symptoms, so they can recommend the best handling plan.

Running injury 6: Patellar tendonitis

Common among altitude runners, patellar tendonitis occurs when overuse results in tears in the patellar tendon, which connects the shinbone and the kneecap. Hurting from this running injury tin range from mild to severe. If you retrieve you lot might have patellar tendonitis, or are experiencing any level of pain, run into a dr. right away. Not getting the proper medical handling could cause express mobility in your 24-hour interval-to-solar day life, not just during runs.

Can patellar tendonitis be treated at urgent care?

Y'all tin head to your local urgent care for patellar tendonitis. Your urgent care provider may recommend an x-ray, MRI, or ultrasound to diagnose the injury and develop a programme for treatment.

Running injury seven: Talocrural joint Sprain

When the ligaments that support your ankle stretch beyond their limit and tear, an talocrural joint sprain occurs. This running injury is common and tin can range from mild to severe, depending on the extent of impairment to your ligaments. If you call back you've sprained your ankle, stop running immediately and elevate the injury. Don't push through the pain—ankle sprains that don't heal properly can cause serious long-term issues, including ankle instability and arthritis.

Can an ankle pain and sprains be treated at urgent care?

While, typically, ankle sprains will heal on their ain, they tin be treated at urgent care. At-home treatments like balance, elevation, and ice volition assistance mild sprains. If your ankle is bloated or you tin can't put weight on your talocrural joint, caput to urgent care right abroad.

Running injury 8: Pulled muscles

If you lot've ever had a pulled muscle, you know they are nothing to joke about. Pulled muscles occur when your muscle is torn or overstretched, typically as a effect of overuse or improper use. Any muscle can get strained, though the nearly mutual strains occur in the lower back, neck, shoulder, and hamstring.

Pulled muscles can range from mild to severe and crusade decreased mobility. Severe strains tin require medical treatment.

Tin a pulled muscle be treated at urgent care?

Residual, water ice, compression, and elevation are the almost ordinarily recommended treatments for a pulled muscle. You can also take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, apply rut after iii days, and gently stretch the muscle, as long equally information technology isn't painful to do and then.

If the hurting persists after a week, your muscle is numb, yous're haemorrhage, or you can't walk or move your limbs, seek medical attention at urgent care. An urgent care center will be able to provide a physical exam, including an ten-ray or MRI, if one is needed.

Running injury 9: Blisters, chafing, and side stitches

So, technically, blisters, chafing, and side stitches are all dissever injuries that can occur while running. Blisters oft occur due to improper footwear and chafing happens when skin rubs against skin. Both tin can be painful—and require medical attending if they go too bad. Thankfully, both can exist easily avoided past wearing shoes that fit well and wearing running clothes that cover your thighs or any other trunk office prone to chafing, respectively.

Side stitches bear on nearly seventy% of runners and often are a sign of poor running posture. Though painful, they can by and large be corrected by bending forrad slightly and tightening your core.

Tin can blisters, chafing, and side stretches exist treated at urgent intendance?

Unless chafing turns into a rash, it can ordinarily be treated by cleaning the affected surface area and allowing information technology to air dry. Blisters, too, can oft be treated at home. If they don't heal or become worse, going to urgent care is a good option. Side stitches don't crave immediate urgent care treatment, however, if they persist, head to urgent care to observe out if there'due south something else contributing to this painful runner's injury.

Running is both a great form of exercise and a way to boost your mood. Whether you lot run effectually your neighborhood or compete in long-altitude races, keeping yourself free of injury is the most important thing. If you practise sustain a running injury, it's a good idea to volume a aforementioned-twenty-four hour period urgent intendance appointment. Patients who book through Solv spend an average of eight minutes waiting for intendance, so you can get dorsum to your life—and run—faster.