When can patients start or continue to run after injury? How quickly can their running be progressed without flaring up symptoms? Enrol on the Running Repairs Online course during the early bird period and receive the complete Return to Running bonus package, free.
It’s the big question every injured runner wants answered in their appointment. How can you answer confidently, knowing whether they need a break from running, or whether they can keep running — and for how long? What if they’ve had a complex injury, or several unsuccessful attempts to return to running?
The Return to running decision tree guides you through the decision-making process, so you can be confident you’ve made the right call with your patient about whether they can run, and the right amount of running for them. Follow the pathway to identify:
You’ll receive white and coloured versions of the decision tree, so you can use the one that suits you best. Sample sheets on this page are blurred — your bonus package arrives in full detail.
One of the most challenging phases you’ll help your patients through is returning to running when they’ve had a break, or are only managing a few minutes of running. With the early bird bonus you can choose from six Phase 1 return to running plans, designed to guide patients successfully through this stage and achieve between 10 and 50 minutes of running.
Each plan includes:
You can select one or two Phase 1 plans to discuss with each runner, see what they prefer, and adapt the plan based on their response.
Each patient’s tolerance to running varies considerably, especially after an injury. Here’s how the six Phase 1 plans work with real presentations, and where the Running Repairs Online course modules guide your treatment.
Module 5 — “Run or rest? How to guide return to running after injury” in the Running Repairs Online course will guide you through how to prepare her for running.
When she meets the entry requirements outlined on the plan, you can start with Plan 1 — Return to 10 minutes of running in 7 weeks, with walk breaks built in.
Module 13 — Proximal hamstring tendinopathy assessment and treatment will guide you through this patient’s treatment.
Plan 2 — Return to 10 minutes of running in 5 weeks will be perfect for this runner.
He’s symptom-free with most activities and happy with a gradual return while continuing rehab. Plan 3 — Return to 20 minutes of running will suit this runner.
Follow the guidance in Module 8 — Bone stress injury, “shin splints” and stress fractures.
Plan 4 — Return to 30 minutes of running is an excellent option for this runner to follow.
A gradual return like plans 1 to 3 won’t prepare her for this event, but rushing back risks flaring up symptoms. Module 10 — Patellofemoral pain and ITBS will help you design the right rehab program.
Plan 5 — A fast return, back to 40 minutes of running strikes the balance: a quicker return that is still graduated.
Module 10 — Patellofemoral pain and ITBS will help you with this patient’s rehab as well.
Plan 6 — Accelerated return to 50 minutes is the fastest return plan, reserved for runners with a critical race coming up who are determined to do it, and will help your patient meet their goals while keeping symptoms manageable.
What about when patients haven’t needed or had a break from running? The remaining return to running plans guide your patients from their current running capacity to meeting their goals without flaring their symptoms — 5 km, 10 km, a half marathon or a full marathon. Patients tick off a day by day, week by week progression, with rehab, strength work and recovery weeks built into their training.
Running injury patients often overdo their running, causing flare-ups and setbacks with their rehab and pain. This handout helps your patients understand their running injury, why they may have to reduce their running temporarily, how to know if they’re running too much or the right amount, and why your rehab is essential to their recovery.
Hand or email your patients the sheet alongside their running program — a polished, professional handout that reinforces everything you covered in the session.
Enrol on the Running Repairs Online course during the early bird period and you’ll receive all of this, free:
The bonus package is included with enrolment on any ticket while the early bird period is on.
