Is it worth the expense to visit a sports medicine clinic?
August 24, 2015 5:55 AM Subscribe
I've had some pain associated with running, and I'm wondering if it is worth the expense (time and money-wise) to visit a sports medicine clinic to resolve the problem.
I used to run 3 -10 mi at a stretch, 4 or 5 x a week, mostly on pavement. In the past year, I've found I'm unable to run more than a mile without significant pain in my ankles (which are very tight) or behind my knee at the top of my calf (where the muscle meets the bone). I've tried different shoes and various stretches and warm-ups, but nothing seems to keep it from happening.
I can do other forms of exercise, such as jumprope and HIIT workouts without triggering the same pain, so I've mostly just given up running. I'm 37 years old, and I figured it was time to find a new form of exercising. I do enjoy running, though, and I'd like to have it as an option if I could avoid pain. I'm also worried that the pain is an indication that I should be doing things differently, and that I'll wind up suffering if I don't fix it.
I would have to pay out of pocket to see someone, which is another reason I've avoided it. If others have found that it was worth the expense (both time and money, really), I'd like to hear about it.
I used to run 3 -10 mi at a stretch, 4 or 5 x a week, mostly on pavement. In the past year, I've found I'm unable to run more than a mile without significant pain in my ankles (which are very tight) or behind my knee at the top of my calf (where the muscle meets the bone). I've tried different shoes and various stretches and warm-ups, but nothing seems to keep it from happening.
I can do other forms of exercise, such as jumprope and HIIT workouts without triggering the same pain, so I've mostly just given up running. I'm 37 years old, and I figured it was time to find a new form of exercising. I do enjoy running, though, and I'd like to have it as an option if I could avoid pain. I'm also worried that the pain is an indication that I should be doing things differently, and that I'll wind up suffering if I don't fix it.
I would have to pay out of pocket to see someone, which is another reason I've avoided it. If others have found that it was worth the expense (both time and money, really), I'd like to hear about it.
i have had a problem with my knee and was sent to a sports clinic. i love the place, even though i am now, 3 months later, still having problems with my knee.
that may sound odd, but it feels so much better than standard kinesiologia (not sure what this is in english - maybe physio?) - they have people that really seem to care, rather than just going through the routine. and while my knee still has problems the work has significantly improved my balance and strength (balance is an issue because i have ms). also, the gym there has replaced my cycling for now (its winter here and i am hoping the knee is going to improve, slowly).
to be clear, this is a sports clinic with doctors, gym, and various levels of people in the gym (so i started with someone more knowledgeable - a kinesiologo - but also more expensive, and then after a month, once my routine was clear, switched to someone cheaper - more like a trainer guy, which just gives me new exercises when i am bored / capable with what i am doing). it's a big place - they have their own MRI machine, for example, and a room with lowered oxygen levels (high altitude training stuff).
i had never been to a gym before, and i think i would still not like a "normal" gym full of weights. but this place is more focussed on sport and injuries, has a wide range of clients (people even older than me), a very inclusive atmosphere, and focuses mainly on work that doesn't involve weights (i do a bunch of stretches, various balance routines, them some leg work on machines, some upper body work using medicine ball, rubber cords, body weight, and then more stretches - i also cycle there and back which counts for my warm-up/cool-down)
posted by andrewcooke at 6:28 AM on August 24, 2015
that may sound odd, but it feels so much better than standard kinesiologia (not sure what this is in english - maybe physio?) - they have people that really seem to care, rather than just going through the routine. and while my knee still has problems the work has significantly improved my balance and strength (balance is an issue because i have ms). also, the gym there has replaced my cycling for now (its winter here and i am hoping the knee is going to improve, slowly).
to be clear, this is a sports clinic with doctors, gym, and various levels of people in the gym (so i started with someone more knowledgeable - a kinesiologo - but also more expensive, and then after a month, once my routine was clear, switched to someone cheaper - more like a trainer guy, which just gives me new exercises when i am bored / capable with what i am doing). it's a big place - they have their own MRI machine, for example, and a room with lowered oxygen levels (high altitude training stuff).
i had never been to a gym before, and i think i would still not like a "normal" gym full of weights. but this place is more focussed on sport and injuries, has a wide range of clients (people even older than me), a very inclusive atmosphere, and focuses mainly on work that doesn't involve weights (i do a bunch of stretches, various balance routines, them some leg work on machines, some upper body work using medicine ball, rubber cords, body weight, and then more stretches - i also cycle there and back which counts for my warm-up/cool-down)
posted by andrewcooke at 6:28 AM on August 24, 2015
When I started having ankle pain from running, I went to a local sports shop recommended by a running coach - a hippie/nerdy kind of place staffed by hardcore outdoor enthusiasts. For all of $20, their physical therapist on staff took a quick look at my gait and made recommendations re. shoes and exercises to do. No ankle pain since. (I am older than you and I run every weekday but not very long or very fast... maybe 15 minutes at a moderate pace).
posted by rada at 6:57 AM on August 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by rada at 6:57 AM on August 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Time-wise, I'd say it's absolutely worth it. Money-wise, I'm not sure about the actual cost, how much that means to you, etc. But personally, knee problems scare the absolute crap out of me—spare no expense. At the very least, go to a running shoe store where they analyze your gait and tell you if you've got any anomalies that might be causing the issue, and whether new shoes might fix it. Yes, there's some bias in that they're salespeople, but again—don't mess with your knees.
posted by dondiego87 at 7:11 AM on August 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by dondiego87 at 7:11 AM on August 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
i would also start at a running store and see if that helps before spending the money at sports medicine.
posted by nadawi at 7:17 AM on August 24, 2015
posted by nadawi at 7:17 AM on August 24, 2015
posted before i finished : i was having pain in my shins and feet just from brisk walking and a pair of insoles from the local running store fixed me right up.
posted by nadawi at 7:18 AM on August 24, 2015
posted by nadawi at 7:18 AM on August 24, 2015
I have done marketing consulting for a couple of sports medicine clinics, so I had to become very familiar with the technology and therapies, and the philosophy of the practice, plus the actual "clients" or customers they were trying to help.
In short, it's probably worth it, since they have some pretty amazing technologies and specialists available to help diagnose and potentially solve your problem.
There are also "integrated clinics", so you'll have access to a wide range of specialists along an entire continuum of care. And many of these clinics also themselves consult to local professional sports teams, so you're going to get that level of care.
On the other hand, the target customers are typically affluent professionals who are also serious amateur athletes who are trying to improve their triathlon or marathon times and so on.
So they have disposable income and an expensive hobby, so sports medicine clinic is kind of a Cadillac approach to the problem. It could get expensive real fast.
posted by Nevin at 8:53 AM on August 24, 2015
In short, it's probably worth it, since they have some pretty amazing technologies and specialists available to help diagnose and potentially solve your problem.
There are also "integrated clinics", so you'll have access to a wide range of specialists along an entire continuum of care. And many of these clinics also themselves consult to local professional sports teams, so you're going to get that level of care.
On the other hand, the target customers are typically affluent professionals who are also serious amateur athletes who are trying to improve their triathlon or marathon times and so on.
So they have disposable income and an expensive hobby, so sports medicine clinic is kind of a Cadillac approach to the problem. It could get expensive real fast.
posted by Nevin at 8:53 AM on August 24, 2015
If I were you, I'd start with a podiatrist; he/she can example your stride, footstrike, and so on and see if you're doing anything that screams trouble. Not sure if you need to see a General Practitioner for a referral, but you can work that out.
Bring your running shoes because you might end up on a treadmill or at least walking/running down a hallway -- I don't know if this sounds like reading tea leaves to a podiatrist, but looking at shoe wear patterns sure worked for Sherlock Holmes: uneven wear can both indicate as well as exacerbate problem strides.
posted by Sunburnt at 3:43 PM on August 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Bring your running shoes because you might end up on a treadmill or at least walking/running down a hallway -- I don't know if this sounds like reading tea leaves to a podiatrist, but looking at shoe wear patterns sure worked for Sherlock Holmes: uneven wear can both indicate as well as exacerbate problem strides.
posted by Sunburnt at 3:43 PM on August 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
I've gone to two orthopedic sports doctors in two states for the same issue: tight calf that hurts when I stand and walk. Both times they did an x-ray and told me to do physical therapy. Physical therapy costs $40 per session, and I said "well what if the pain continues?" and they said they'd see me again, and then maybe they'd do an MRI. I don't know if you would have a similar experience or not, but if I had to guess, they will just tell you to do physical therapy first or if they want to diagnose you, they will want to do medical scans that you cannot afford.
On a separate note, you should look into changing your insurance to get a plan that would cover something like this. I can only see in-network doctors and I pay a $40 co-pay, but orthopedic specialists are covered.
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:50 PM on August 24, 2015
On a separate note, you should look into changing your insurance to get a plan that would cover something like this. I can only see in-network doctors and I pay a $40 co-pay, but orthopedic specialists are covered.
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:50 PM on August 24, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks everyone, I forgot to mention that I'm in the UK. I'm sort of leaning towards simply picking another exercise that is just as convenient and easier on my legs than running. What I've heard is that a sports clinic might help but might not, could be quite expensive, and older runners just have to accept that running hurts. I haven't heard anyone say that the consequences of not going could be that I wind up in worse pain.
posted by stinker at 1:14 AM on August 25, 2015
posted by stinker at 1:14 AM on August 25, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
A simple trick which has helped me a lot is to alternate between two completely different pairs of shoes with each training run. The change in mechanics prevents your feet (ankles, knees, hips) from striking the pavement in exactly the same way with every single run. Alternating also allows your shoes to dry out completely which is nice.
Right now I'm alternating between a pair of ASICS and a pair of Nikes and this has been working very well. The difference between gel and air is really palpable. I have become really fond of the ASICS, but too much of a good thing is bad thing so Nike still gets half of my money.
posted by three blind mice at 6:27 AM on August 24, 2015 [1 favorite]