Only a few runners invest their time and money in prevention. Most of them begin to act only when something starts to get worse, crack, ache or trouble. On the other hand, more and more researches point at the fact that there is little that needs to be done to reduce the risk of injury and to avoid pain.
The connection of medicine, technology and human inclination towards laziness facilitated the creation of some useful, simple and easy tools that help runners to defeat the pain and small injuries, and prevent the development of the injury at home.
Treating without prescription
Go to a pharmacy only when homegrown methods do not bring you relief or when your doctor appointment is too far away, and you want to survive this period without pain. Remember to stop using ointments and medications at least a day before the appointment, because their activity may mask the symptoms that could help the doctor or the physiotherapist recognize the injury.
When it becomes impossible to pretend during trainings that nothing hurts, runners eagerly request a pharmacist’s advice. In a pharmacy, numerous medications created to eliminate swellings, pain and inflammations can be found.
“A muscle pain resulting from trainings can be experimentally treated with an ointment after 3-5 days of rest, stretching, rolling, etc. – says Doctor of Pharmacy Jakub Czaja, the ALE expert. – There are analgesic warming or cooling ointments or gels available in pharmacies; however, the permeability of the latter through skin is low. In inflammations, for example the inflammations of Achilles’ tendon, anti-inflammatory pills working from the inside are better. Effective agents are those which contain one of the following active substances: naproxen, diclofenac or ibuprofen” – advises the pharmacist.
The idea of applying all pharmacy-sourced medications according to the leaflet information or to instructions from a pharmacist is not only an empty advertising slogan. Only adequate dosing ensures medication effectiveness. “If symptoms don’t regress after 3-5 days of applying, there’s no sense in waiting, you have to go to the doctor’s” – Dr Czaja advises.