Remedial massage for runners:
Are your feet being overlooked?
I recently treated a new client who is both a runner and a running coach. During the session, he mentioned something that genuinely surprised me.
After around six years of having remedial massage, I was only the second therapist who had treated his feet.
For someone who runs regularly, that feels like a pretty important area to overlook.
Your feet take a lot of load when you run
Your feet are your contact point with the ground with every single stride.
Running repeatedly loads the foot and ankle complex, with the muscles, tendons and joints working together to absorb, produce and transfer force as you move.
That doesn't mean every running injury starts at the feet, or that treating the feet will magically fix knee, hip or back pain.
But it does mean they're worth considering as part of the bigger picture.
The same applies further up the chain. For example, I often assess the adductors when runners come in with knee symptoms. I explain why in One overlooked muscle that can contribute to knee pain in runners and HYROX athletes.
Why I assess more than where it hurts
If you come in with a running-related niggle, I don't automatically assume the painful area is the problem.
Depending on your symptoms, I may look at:
Foot and ankle movement
Calf capacity and mobility
Knee movement
Hip mobility and strength
Differences between sides
How you squat, lunge or perform other relevant movements
Recent changes in your running or training load
The goal isn't to find one muscle to blame. It's to understand what may be contributing to the problem and decide what actually needs attention.
This is also why my approach to remedial massage starts with an assessment rather than simply treating whichever area feels tight or sore.
Should your feet be included in remedial massage?
Not necessarily every single session.
Treatment should be based on what we find during your assessment and what you're trying to achieve.
But if you're a runner and your feet and ankles have never been considered during treatment, they're probably worth a look.
And hands-on treatment is only one part of the picture. How well you can control and use the movement available to you matters too. If you’re constantly stretching because you feel tight, have a read of Mobility vs Flexibility: What’s the Difference for Training and Movement?.
Remedial massage for runners in Teneriffe, Brisbane
At Move Better with Roxy in Teneriffe, my approach to remedial and sports massage combines assessment, hands-on treatment, movement and practical advice to help you better understand what your body needs.
Because treating runners should involve more than repeatedly working on the spot that hurts.
If you're dealing with recurring tightness, discomfort or pain when running, learn more about how I approach remedial and sports massage or book an assessment at my Teneriffe clinic.
