Running injuries are usually caused by inadequate training, improper technique, muscle imbalances, and/or the wrong footwear. Common running injuries include shin splints, runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain syndrome), Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and iliotibial band syndrome (affecting the tendon connecting a hip muscle to the top of the tibia, or the lower-leg bone).
If you have a leg or foot injury from running or jogging, it’s important to see a primary care doctor. Not only will they be able to treat the injury, but they can also help prevent it from becoming worse and recurring.
Let’s talk about how a primary care physician can help treat and prevent running injuries, and where you can go in the Midlands for top-notch medical care to keep you healthy and pain-free.
Which Doctor to See for Your Running Injury
If you are experiencing the telltale signs of a running injury – such as pain, swelling, and bruising – then your primary care doctor is the best person to diagnose and treat you. This physician knows all about your health, lifestyle, and preferences, and they will best know which treatment to administer or recommend to get you back to your active lifestyle without unnecessary delay.
Any other doctor would likely take a while and request that you have various scanning tests to determine your treatment, but your primary doctor already knows what to do for you.
Why Choose an Internal Medicine Provider?
Compared to medical specialists, such as orthopedists, internal medicine practitioners treat adult patients as a whole. This means they consider not just the specific symptoms, but also every aspect of the patient’s lifestyle that may have contributed to the injury, such as nutrition and fitness issues.
Internal medicine doctors’ training in general medicine makes them experts in treating both simple and complex illnesses and diseases, and they know how important your running or other sport is to you. Since running is excellent for your overall health, your primary care doctor can help you continue with your chosen activity safely despite any underlying medical conditions.
Primary care doctors also act as coordinators of your care and ensure you are provided continuity of care after an injury, from treatment to rehabilitation to long-term maintenance and prevention. Primary care doctors ensure that patients with running injuries are engaging in proper recovery protocols, and are fit to return to their running activity – or, if not, what alternative exercise to recommend.
Treatment for Running Injuries in Irmo, SC
By seeking medical attention for your running injury early, you can prevent further damage and can speed up your recovery time. Our primary care doctors at SC Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation are here to offer you outstanding convenience and individualized one-on-one care. We have diagnostic equipment right here in our building, so we can thoroughly examine, diagnose, and treat your running injury without further ado.
Allow us to provide you with an exceptional healthcare experience. To schedule an appointment with one of our primary care doctors for your running injury, call our Irmo clinic today at (803) 749-1111 or fill out our easy-to-use appointment request form online now. We look forward to being your go-to healthcare provider!