Running is one of Sarasota’s favorite activities, from long stretches on the Legacy Trail, scaling Celery Fields and joining in on your local run club. People come for the lovely weather but forget about our brutal long summers. With high mileage, heat, and hard surfaces comes a higher risk of overuse injuries.

At Well Co Chiropractic, I see runners every week dealing with pain that holds them back. The good news? With proper care, most running injuries can be treated effectively without surgery.

Here are the top 5 running injuries we treat in our Sarasota office, and how we help runners recover.

1. Runner’s Knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)

Symptoms: Aching pain around or behind the kneecap, especially after long runs, hills, or stairs.
Cause: Imbalances in hip and thigh muscles, poor tracking of the kneecap, or overtraining.
Treatment: Active Release to release tight quads/hip flexors, strengthening of glutes and core (exercises like fire hydrant, glute bridges with hip band and a box step down are all good options), gait retraining.

Note: knee pain is often the result of poor joint positioning during movements. During movement, your patella should slide easily back and forth within the groove of the femur. If the knee does not track properly, the kneecap will rub against cartilage and put excessive pull force on your tendons. OUCH.

2. Plantar Fasciitis

Symptoms: Sharp heel pain, worse in the morning or after runs.
Cause: Overuse of the plantar fascia from repetitive impact, weak foot muscles, or poor footwear.
Treatment: ART on calves and foot tissues, foot strengthening drills, footwear education, and load management.

Note: recently, I’ve been experimenting with Toe Spacers for my own PF, and I’ve been liking the results. While there’s little scientific evidence on the role of toe spacers in treating plantar fasciitis, there is research showing the benefit of them in strengthening intrinsic foot muscles and realigning the body toe. So, when you can fix the factors that contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis, you drastically reduce your odds of developing it. - more on this in another blog!

3. Achilles Tendinopathy

Symptoms: Pain and stiffness at the back of the ankle, worse with running or first steps in the morning.
Cause: Repetitive strain on the Achilles tendon, often from sudden mileage increases or hill running.
Treatment: Manual therapy/ART, progressive calf strengthening (12-week program), and sport-specific loading - think Standing Calf raises but supped up

4. IT Band Syndrome

Symptoms: Sharp pain on the outside of the knee, often starting mid-run.
Cause: Tightness in the iliotibial band and weak hip stabilizers.
Treatment: ART for the IT band and surrounding muscles, hip/glute strengthening, stride and surface modification.

5. Low Back & Hip Pain

Symptoms: Stiffness or aching in the lower back or hips, sometimes radiating into the leg.
Cause: Weak core, poor running posture, or tight hip flexors from sitting + running combo.
Treatment: Chiropractic adjustments, ART for hip/lumbar muscles, corrective exercise for posture and core stability.

Sarasota runner running pain free after treatments with dr sandy Arthur at well co chiropractic

How Well Co Chiropractic Helps Sarasota Runners

My approach is not just about short-term pain relief. At Well Co Chiropractic, I use:

Active Release Technique (ART): To release scar tissue and restore mobility.
Chiropractic adjustments: To improve joint mechanics and alignment.
Rehab exercises: To build long-term resilience in hips, knees, and core.
Education: On footwear, running form, and training volume to prevent recurrence.

Keep Running Sarasota Strong

Running injuries are common, but they don’t have to end your training. With the right treatment and a personalized plan, you can stay on the Legacy Trail, race Sarasota half marathons, or enjoy morning beach runs, without pain holding you back.

Book Your Appointment with Dr. Sandy Arthur at Well Co Chiropractic