Running is one of the best ways to lose weight, get in shape, stay fit and challenge yourself physically and mentally. Yet, it’s also a great way to injure yourself. Whether from inexperience or running high mileage, running can result in several types of common injuries. Runners knee is one of the most common types of sports injuries runners sustain. Fortunately, there are some effective runners knee treatment options.
Post-run Icing
Icing your knees after every run can help prevent runner’s knee from happening. Inflammation and swelling are present when runners knee occurs. Ice is a good runners knee treatment option to reduce swelling and inflammation.
Stretching Your Quads and Calf Muscles
Your quadriceps and calf muscles, if they’re strong, can take a lot of pressure off your knees. By strengthening these muscles, you can share the burden of running, so to speak, between your knee and other areas of your leg. This helps reduce the amount of wear and tear on your knees, thus reducing inflammation and helping to prevent runners knee.
Kinesiology Tape
Patellar taping can be very effective in helping to reduce muscle strain and fatigue. While you can use either athletic tape or kinesiology tape, the latter is more flexible and comfortable. Studies have shown that it’s not about how tightly you tape but the presence of the tape itself that aids in reducing muscle damage. Taping your knee can help you avoid runners knee treatment later.
EPAT for Runners Knee Treatment
When looking at alternative sports injury treatment options, it is vital to consider methods that offer real gains. For instance, EPAT shockwave therapy is something we hear a lot about these days – for good reason. Athletes who suffer from lower back pain, tennis elbow, golfers elbow, runners knee and other serious conditions recover quicker from their injuries using EPAT. While EPAT is not a cure, it can assist in speeding up the recovery process. This is vital for athletes who want to get back on the field or court quickly.
What is EPAT Shockwave Therapy?
EPAT therapy uses pressure waves to assist internal maladies that are hurting your body. This is not an invasive procedure, and there is little to no down time when you are going through the treatment. The nature of the treatment means it is a no-risk sports medicine option for athletes. If it manages to speed up the healing process, it has done its job. Even if the treatment is unsuccessful, the patient will not suffer any negative effects since this is a non-invasive procedure. The only side effect is a little bit of discomfort in the area, which usually goes away after a couple of days. The treatment is fully cleared by the FDA, which means it is safe when administered by a sports medicine doctor. By taking these high speed acoustic waves, shockwave therapy will focus the treatment on the parts of the body that are suffering. For example, if you are suffering from a knee injury, the waves will be focused on your injured knee. It can help assist in tissue regeneration and accelerates the healing process. Athletes won’t find themselves sidelined for too long.
