Rehabilitation for Runners Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Rehabilitation for Runners - Essay Example PHASE 2 Continue as above and add: Appropriate shoe orthotics. For example, arch supports may be worn. Posterior leg stretching Gastroc Strecth. Keep involved leg back with the knee straight and heel on the floor. Slowly bend front knee and lean into wall until stretch is felt in the calf of the back leg. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. Soleus Strecth. Similar to the gastroc stretch, however keep both knees bent and heels on the floor. Lean into wall until a stretch is felt in the lower calf. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. Anterior leg stretching Anterior Tibialis Stretch. In a or sitting position, cross the involved leg over the uninvolved leg. Pull the toes in a direction that will gently stretch the tissue on the top of the. Hold 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. Anterior leg strengthening Toe Taps Sit in a chair with arms resting on thighs. Begin to tap toes by lifting up foot except for the heel and returning it to the floor as fast as possible. You should start to feel the muscles in the front of the ankle working. Continue tapping for 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. PHASE 3 Limited running on treadmill or track surface at low speed, distance, and level plane Patient education: learn to recognize symptoms of shin splints in order to prevent reoccurrence and be able to administer self treatment to the area when symptoms return. PHASE 4 Return to sports Continue with stretch and strengthening of leg and ankle muscles. REFERENCES Sports Injury Clinic. (2008). Shin splints treatment and rehabilitation. 28 July, 2008 (Online). Available at: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/lowerleg/shinsplints/rehabilitation.php Plone Open Source Content Management System. (2007) Physical Theraphy...Pull the toes in a direction that will gently stretch the tissue on the top of the. Hold 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. Toe Taps Sit in a chair with arms resting on thighs. Begin to tap toes by lifting up foot except for the heel and returning it to the floor as fast as possible. You should start to feel the muscles in the front of the ankle working. Continue tapping for 20 seconds and repeat 5 times. Sports Injury Clinic. (2008). Shin splints treatment and rehabilitation. 28 July, 2008 (Online). Available at: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/lowerleg/shinsplints/rehabilitation.php The leaflet aims to help athletes specially runners on shin splint intermediate rehabilitation. Shin splints are most common among runners, particularly those just starting a running program. If an athlete has a flat arches, his/her feet may have a tendency to roll too far inward (pronate) when running which can contribute to shin splints (Mayo, 2006). It is commonly used as a "garbage can" term to include a variety of exercise-induced leg pathologies but actually represents a very specific problem.