Why Runners Get Injured — And What We Can Do About It

Why Runners Get Injured — And What We Can Do About It

Running is one of the most accessible forms of exercise, but it’s also one of the most common sources of injury we treat—especially due to overuse. Injuries like patellar tendonitis, IT band syndrome, and calf strains are frequent visitors in our clinic, and they all share one frustrating trait: they’re repetitive-use injuries. That means they don’t happen from a single traumatic event, but from performing the same motion—running—over and over again.

One of our favorite tools for tackling these injuries is soft tissue work, particularly dry needling. Why? Tendons have notoriously poor blood supply, which slows the healing process. Needling stimulates circulation directly to the affected area, kickstarting healing from the inside out. Rolling your IT band, for example, might bruise it more than help—because it doesn’t increase blood flow where it matters.

Beyond treatment, we also work on muscle activation—especially glute control. Weak or inactive glutes can cause the knee to collapse inward during a run, leading to even bigger issues like meniscus injuries. We see this all the time in athletes, especially those who are quad-dominant and undertrained in hip stability.

If you’re a runner dealing with nagging pain or recurring injuries, check out this week’s video where we dive deeper into these common issues and share how we help our patients get back on track.