You didn't sign up for this.

You signed up for early mornings and long runs and that weird high you get somewhere around mile eight. You signed up for race registrations and new shoes and Strava PRs and post-run tacos.

You did not sign up for the thing that's happening right now, where something hurts, and it won't stop, and every mile you try to push through it just makes it worse.

I get it. I've been running competitively for 24 years. I've crossed the finish line of 14 marathons and 25 half marathons. I coach cross country and track. Running isn't just what I do. It's part of who I am.

And in my chiropractic office in Provo, I see injured runners walk through my door every single week. Same injuries, over and over. The good news? Almost all of them are fixable. Here's what I see most.

1. Runner's Knee (That Pain Behind or Around Your Kneecap)
Runner's knee is probably the most common thing I treat. You feel it as a dull-to-sharp ache around your kneecap, usually worse going downstairs, after sitting for a long time, or somewhere around mile 3 when your legs are warmed up but not yet numb.
Here's the thing most people don't know: it's almost never actually a knee problem.
Runner's knee is usually a hip problem. When your hips are weak or your glutes aren't firing properly, your knee has to compensate with every single stride. Do that for 10,000 steps and something's going to start talking to you.
Treating just the knee is like unplugging the "check engine" light without fixing the engine. We go upstream and look at hip mechanics, pelvic alignment, and gait. The knee pain almost always follows.

2. IT Band Syndrome (The One That Ruins Long Runs)
IT band syndrome hits you like clockwork. You start a run feeling fine, somewhere between miles 2 and 5 you get a sharp, burning pain on the outside of your knee, and no amount of foam rolling makes it go away for more than a day.
Runners hate this one because it feels like it should respond to stretching and rest, and it doesn't. That's because the IT band itself is not the problem. It's a thick band of connective tissue and it doesn't really "stretch." The tension is coming from somewhere else: your hip flexors, your TFL, your pelvis.
When I see IT band syndrome, I'm looking at the whole kinetic chain. Soft tissue work, dry needling into the hip, and correcting the mechanical issue causing the tension in the first place. That's what actually gets people back on the road.

3. Plantar Fasciitis (aka the Morning Heel Stab)
You know this one. You wake up, you take your first steps of the day, and your heel feels like someone left a thumbtack in your shoe overnight.
Plantar fasciitis is brutal because it affects literally every step you take. And it's one of those injuries that runners tend to push through until they can't anymore.
The good news: it responds really well to treatment, especially shockwave therapy. Shockwave sends acoustic waves into the damaged tissue to jumpstart healing. It's one of the most evidence-backed treatments available for plantar issues, and I've seen people who've had heel pain for years turn a corner in just a few sessions.
If you've been icing and stretching for months with no results, it's time to try something different.

4. Achilles Tendinopathy (The One You Keep Ignoring)
A little stiffness in your Achilles when you first start a run. Goes away after you warm up. You tell yourself it's fine.
Then one day it doesn't go away.
Achilles tendinopathy is the injury runners are most likely to try to run through, and the one most likely to become a long-term problem if they do. The tendon gets progressively more damaged with every mile you push on it before it's healed.
Shockwave therapy works well here too. So does addressing the calf tightness and load management issues that usually cause it in the first place. If you've been dealing with a nagging Achilles for more than a few weeks, come in. Seriously.

5. Shin Splints (Every New Runner's Worst Enemy)
Shin splints are the injury I see most in newer runners or people coming back after a break. That aching, throbbing pain along the inside of your shin, usually worse at the start of a run, sometimes bad enough to stop you mid-mile.
The cause is almost always a combination of things: too much mileage too fast, calf tightness that's throwing off your mechanics, foot and ankle issues, and sometimes just bone that hasn't adapted yet to the load.
The fix isn't just rest. It's slowing down the training ramp, addressing the soft tissue restriction, and correcting whatever mechanical issue is putting extra stress on the shin. Done right, most runners can stay in some form of training while this heals.

So Why Does This Keep Happening?
Almost every running injury I see comes down to the same few root causes:
Too much, too fast. Mileage or intensity spikes the body can't absorb.
Something upstream is restricted. A stiff ankle, locked hip, or tight thoracic spine that forces other parts to compensate.
A past injury that never fully healed. Old sprains, strains, or tightness that never got addressed and quietly changed the way you move.
The injury you feel isn't always the injury you have. That's why I don't just treat the spot that hurts. I look at the whole picture.


Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to stop running completely to get treatment?
Not always. Depending on the injury, we can often keep you running at a modified level while you heal. I'd rather keep you moving than bench you entirely.

How is your approach different from a regular chiropractor?
I don't do aggressive crack-and-rack adjustments. My approach is gentle and thorough: gentle hands on adjustments, dry needling, shockwave, therapeutic ultrasound, electric stim, and massage cupping. And I'm a runner, so I actually understand what you're asking your body to do.

What's shockwave therapy?
It's a non-invasive treatment that sends acoustic waves into damaged tissue to stimulate healing. A little uncomfortable during the session, but highly effective, especially for Achilles and plantar fasciitis issues that haven't responded to other treatments.

How many visits will it take?
Honest answer: it depends. Acute issues often turn around in 3-5 visits. Chronic stuff takes longer. I'll give you a straight timeline at your first visit, no runaround.

Can you help with an injury that's been going on for over a year?
Yes, and chronic injuries are often the most rewarding to treat, because the root cause has usually never been properly found. Don't assume that because something has been around a long time, it can't get better.

I've been foam rolling and icing for weeks. Why isn't it working?
Because foam rolling and ice treat symptoms, not causes. If the underlying mechanical problem isn't fixed, the injury keeps coming back. That's the cycle I help people break.

Do you work with runners of all levels?
From people training for their first 5K to competitive marathoners chasing a Boston qualifier. All are welcome!

What should I expect at my first visit?
A real conversation about your running history, your injury, and your goals. A thorough assessment. And a clear plan, not just "let's see how it goes."

Where are you located?
Provo, Utah, easy to get to from BYU, Orem, Springville, and surrounding areas.

How do I book an appointment?
Head to provopeakchiro.com or click the button below.

You Trained Too Hard to Sit on the Sidelines
If any of this sounds familiar, come in. Let's figure out what's actually going on and get you back to running.
👉 Book Your Appointment at Provo Peak Chiropractic

Check out my running Instagram!
@Jason_the_chiro_runner

Chiropractic Care for Running Injuries
The Runner's Guide to Chiropractic Care

Dr. Jason Thomsen is a Doctor of Chiropractic, competitive runner, and a coach based in Provo, Utah. He is the founder of Provo Peak Chiropractic.
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