If you are a runner, you have most likely pushed through some pain to stay fit and active. But have you ever wondered if running with soreness is contributing to an injury?
It is often hard to know if pain from the day before is just soreness from a tough run or workout!
So when is it ok to run and when is it smart to rest?
It is generally OK to run if the activity is NOT making your soreness worse. A lot of the time we feel better once we “warm up” and as long as you do NOT increase the mileage of your run while you are still sore, it should be safe.
When should I stop running/exercising? Should I seek professional advice?
A great percentage of running injuries are overuse injuries. These generally present as something mild (like soreness) and progress when training load increases as muscles aren’t able to fully recover in between sessions. Rest days are imperative.
If running makes your soreness worse, or alternatively, you are incorporating appropriate rest days into your program and your soreness is still present 48 hours post exercise (especially in the morning); it is likely something that will benefit from seeing a health professional who regularly deals with sporting injuries.
Will I have to stop running/ exercising?
No, it is unlikely you will have to cease running/exercise completely. If caught early enough, a slight tweak to your running/exercise load is sometimes enough to overcome soreness that may be contributing to an injury. Everyone is different and all injuries are different, so the change is something that will likely be customised to you.
written by Tom Davey – BSPC Podiatrist