Why You Need a Running Physical Therapist

Graduated from Traditional Physical Therapy? Here's What Runners Need to Know Before Training Again

First off—congratulations!

Finishing physical therapy is a huge step in your recovery. But if you're planning to train for a long-distance race this fall, completing PT doesn't always mean you're ready to train.

The physical demands of long-distance running are high. Your home exercise program at discharge should match—or exceed—those demands. Otherwise, the running injury you just recovered from could come right back.

So how do you know if you were discharged from physical therapy too early to return to running?

Ask Yourself These Questions Before You Start Training:

• Did you receive a video analysis of your running form?

• Did you lift weights heavier than 10 pounds as part of your rehab?

• Did you complete a progressive jump training program?

• Were you running at least 10 miles per week pain-free before your final PT session?

If you answered “no” to any of these, then you likely didn’t complete a full return-to-run rehabilitation plan.

Why Running Injuries Often Return After Physical Therapy

I hear this story all the time:

“I finished physical therapy a few months ago. I felt good, but as soon as I ramped up my mileage, the pain came back. I still do some exercises, but the PT gave me a list of 20 and I’m unsure which ones matter. My race is coming up, and I feel stuck.”

You’re not alone. This happens often because physical therapy and long-distance run training are not the same thing. You need a plan that transitions you from rehab to performance.

Common Reasons Runners Are Discharged Too Soon

1. Pain Went Away—So Therapy Ended

Pain relief is important, but it’s not the same as being ready to train. You want to resolve the root cause of your injury—not just the symptom—so you don't risk reinjury in your next training cycle.

2. Your Physical Therapist Wasn’t a Running Specialist

Most PTs graduate with general skills—they’re trained to treat everyone from stroke patients to post-op knees. But running is a high-skill, high-impact sport. Working with a physical therapist who specializes in running can make all the difference when it comes to long-term recovery and performance.

3. Your Strength Training Wasn’t Challenging Enough

To build real muscle strength, your home program must include progressive resistance training—yes, that means lifting heavy. True strength gains take 4–6 weeks and require challenge. If you never broke a sweat in your rehab exercises, your body may not be ready for race training.

4. You Weren’t Running Enough Before Discharge

You can’t know if you’re ready to train if you didn’t test your body with running. In my Return to Run Program, I require clients to reach 10 miles per week pain-free before we increase training load. If you didn’t hit that mark before leaving PT, you likely have more work to do.

What Should Runners Be Able to Do Before Returning to Long-Distance Training?

To reduce the risk of reinjury and perform well, you should be able to:

✅ Run at least 10 miles per week pain-free
✅ Strength train with heavy resistance 2–3x/week
✅ Perform 3 sets of 30-second single-leg hops pain-free
✅ Follow a customized dynamic warm-up that targets your mobility and strength deficits

Pain-free is the bare minimum. Performance—and injury prevention—requires strength, power, and movement efficiency.

If you're frustrated with recurring running pain or unsure if you're ready to return to long-distance running, you're not alone.

I created my Return to Run Program specifically for runners like you: athletes who need expert guidance between injury rehab and full race training.

Found this article helpful?

👉 Subscribe to my newsletter For the Long Run or contact me with questions directly at [email protected]

📲 Or follow me on Instagram @runwellclinic for daily running tips and injury prevention strategies.