Should You See a Physical Therapist for That Nagging Pain?

If you clicked on this, chances are you’ve been dealing with some kind of discomfort—maybe it’s your knee, your Achilles, your hip—that just won’t go away. It’s not bad enough to stop running completely, but it’s definitely there, and it's been hanging around longer than you'd like.

So… do you really need to do something about it? Or should you just keep foam rolling and hoping it’ll go away?

Let’s break it down.

How to Tell When It’s Time to Get Help

🔁 It’s Been More Than 2 Weeks Without Improvement

Most aches from training—like delayed onset soreness or mild tightness—start improving within a few days. If you’ve had the same nagging pain for more than two weeks and it hasn’t improved or has gotten worse, it’s time to look deeper. Especially if it’s interrupting your training rhythm.

🏃 It’s Changing How You Run

Are you adjusting your stride without realizing it? Maybe you're limping a little after your run, landing differently, or avoiding hills or speedwork because “that spot” flares up? These compensations can cause other issues down the line. If pain is altering your mechanics—even subtly—it’s a red flag that needs to be addressed.

⬆️ The Pain Gets Worse the More You Run

If your pain is trending in the wrong direction—especially if it spikes during or after your runs—it’s probably not something that’ll resolve on its own. The “run through it” strategy might seem noble, but in most cases, it just leads to more time off later.

😩 It’s Affecting Your Motivation or Confidence

Let’s be real: running with pain can mess with your head. You start questioning your training plan. You hesitate to sign up for races. You feel like you’re losing fitness or getting stuck. If the mental weight of the pain is starting to drag you down, it’s worth getting clarity—and a plan to move forward.

Common Runner Complaints That PT Can Help With

• “My knee always flares up after 6 miles.”

• “My hamstring just won’t loosen up.”

• “There’s this tight spot in my calf that keeps coming back.”

• “My lower back gets sore after every long run.”

• “It doesn’t hurt at first, but by the end of my run I’m limping.”

All of these are super common—and they’re often caused by movement restrictions, strength imbalances, or running mechanics that can be addressed with physical therapy.

What You Risk by Not Addressing It

🚨 Compensation Injuries

When one area of your body isn’t working optimally, others pick up the slack. Your right foot hurts, so your left hip starts overworking. That leads to low back tightness. Before you know it, one little problem has spiraled into multiple.

🛑 Interrupted Training Cycles

Small issues become big ones at the worst times—like mid-training block or right before race day. Getting ahead of a nagging injury early can save you weeks (or months) of missed runs.

💸 Cost of Time and Money

PT might seem like a big investment, but missing races, buying new gear, trying random recovery gadgets, or visiting multiple providers after an injury adds up fast. A couple of targeted sessions now can keep you from spending way more down the line.

What Happens in a Physical Therapy Assessment?

Still unsure what a session even involves? Here’s a quick look:

• Movement screen: How well do your joints move? Any asymmetries?

• Strength & stability testing: Are certain muscles overactive or underactive?

• Gait or running form assessment: What’s happening in your stride that might be contributing?

• Treatment: Could include manual therapy, mobility work, strength training, and a clear home program tailored to you.

The goal isn’t to just treat pain—it’s to figure out why it’s happening and fix the root cause.

When to Try Self-Care vs. When to Book a PT

Scenario	Try Self-Care First?	See a PT?
Soreness after a new workout	✅	🚫
Pain lasting >2 weeks	🚫	✅
Limping or altered gait	🚫	✅
Discomfort that affects your speed/form	🚫	✅
Minor tightness that improves with stretching	✅	🚫
Pain that gets worse the more you run	🚫	✅

In Summary

That little pain you’ve been ignoring? It could go away… or it could linger, change how you move, and mess with your training. Seeing a physical therapist doesn’t mean you're broken—it means you’re being smart about your body and your running goals. And often, just one or two sessions can make a big difference in getting you back on track.

Still not sure? I'm offering free injury screens on Wednesday, April 30th, 2025 at Anytime Fitness. Here's the link to claim your spot!

If you're reading this and missed the injury screen, you can always book a free consultation to ask me questions and learn more about what my can do to help.