Concord, MO

Concord, MO

Get Healthier and Get Back to the Activities You Love

Beginner Running Program in Concord, MO

Beginner running program in Concord, MO. There are numerous benefits to starting a running program: it can improve mental health, burn fat, strengthen the heart and lungs, and just about anybody can do it, almost anywhere. But, if you want to start a beginner running program in Concord, MO, you may have doubts about how to get started, and how your body’s going handle more physical activity than your body’s used to. Experienced physical therapists like the ones we have here at Axes know how to help people increase their physical activity safely and effectively. Whether you want to return to form after a sports or work-related injury or just need to be more active in your day-to-day life, our team can help you learn proper form, recover from any pre-existing injuries, and treat any injuries or soreness you experience in your running program.

Read on below to see our beginner running tips, contact us through our website, or contact the Axes location nearest you for more information.

Beginner Running Program Concord, MO | Injury Prevention | Physical Therapy Near Concord

6 Reasons to Start a Beginner Running Program

When you start a running program, your body and mind receive numerous benefits, including:

  1. Weight management — The average person burns about 80 to 140 calories for every mile run, making running one of the more efficient weight losing exercises.
  2. Improved cardiovascular health — Running helps to strengthen the heart and lungs, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart disease.
  3. Increased physical strength and endurance — Running helps to strengthen the muscles in the legs, core, and back, helping to improve overall fitness and endurance.
  4. Better mood — Running is known to improve your mental health by releasing endorphins and serotonin, chemicals that improve your mood.
  5. Longer lifespan — Some research suggests that running may lead to a longer lifespan. People who run live an average of three years longer than those who don’t.
  6. Convenience — Running is a simple and affordable way to get regular exercise and you can do it pretty much anywhere with just socks, shoes, shorts, and a shirt. It can be done by people of most ages and fitness levels, and your regimen can be easily modified to suit individual needs, abilities, and limitations.

While it probably won’t take long to get that “runner’s high“, in order to truly reap the benefits of starting a beginners running program in Concord, MO, you’ll need to make running a consistent part of your day.

6 Beginner Running Tips in Concord, MO

Going from the couch to the track may be difficult for some Concord, MO residents, but in truth it’s as easy as putting on your shoes, going out the door, and hitting your stride. A beginner running program isn’t about competition with others; it’s about determination, constant improvement, and taking care of your body. Below are the top 6 beginner running tips to make sure you begin your program safely, and stay motivated to continue it.

  1. Set realistic goals and progress slowly — You may be excited to start your running program, and may have dreams of one day running a marathon. But if you haven’t done strenuous physical activity before, or you’re just starting physical activity again after an injury, doing too much too soon could lead to injury, and setting unattainable goals may make you want to stop altogether. Start out by running slowly, and slowly build up how long you run for in the coming weeks.

    If you feel like you’re very out of shape, it’s OK to start by walking briskly for half an hour and start running once you’re body’s used to an increased heart rate. You can also switch between running and walking in 2-minute intervals.

  2. Wear the right shoes — One of the wonderful things about running is you can do it anywhere and it requires relatively little equipment. One piece of equipment you do need are running shoes. There are many benefits to getting good running shoes, including arch support, cushioning, and injury and blister prevention.
  3. Warm up and cool down Even world-renowned athletes need to warm up before any physical activity. Dynamic exercises like high knees that improve range of motion will help get your body ready for the rigors of running. After the run, it’s important to do static stretches and rest to help prevent injuries and reduce soreness.
  4. Complement your running program with strength and cross training — Running can lead to overuse injuries, so it’s a good idea to maintain your flexibility and keeping your muscles strong as you continue to run. A physical therapist can help you maintain and improve your current levels of flexibility and strength with a personalized strength training program.
  5. Stay hydrated and maintain a healthy diet — When we sweat, our bodies lose fluid. Adequate hydration increases recovery and performance, and minimizes negative side-effects.

    Running also burns up a lot of energy. A healthy diet is necessary to get that energy back. Having good nutrition will also enhance certain running benefits, such as weight management and improved mental health.

  6. If you’re struggling, slow down or take a day off — Listen to your body when starting your beginner running program. While it’s important to make running a habit, you can injure yourself if you over-exert yourself. A little soreness should be expected. But, if you’re having significant pain, you should hold off on running until you heal. If the pain doesn’t subside or progressively worsens, seek out an appointment with your physician, or call Axes Physical Therapy for a free injury screening.

In some ways running will always be hard, as the healthier you are the more you have to push yourself. But, the more you do it, the more you’ll experience the benefits and be motivated to continue your program.

How a Physical Therapist in Concord, MO Can Be Part of Your Beginner Running Program

Our Concord, MO physical therapists are experts at treating injuries, or other musculoskeletal problems such as dealing with chronic pain. But a licensed physical therapist can also contribute to a relatively healthy person’s well-being. With exercises and techniques that are backed by evidence, an Axes physical therapist in Concord, MO can help your beginner running program with:

  • Treating any pre-existing injuries or conditions — A physical therapist in Concord, MO can help you understand if you’re currently healthy enough to run. If you’re not, we can develop a personalized, safe, and effective exercise program to get to the level you need to be at.
  • Create a customized exercise program — We can help you come up with a beginner running program based on your specific needs and limitations. We can also show you strength and flexibility exercises to complement your running program. A physical therapist can also help you not be satisfied the with status quo, and introduce you to more strenuous running programs such as inclines or fartlek training.
  • Teaching proper running techniques — Moving in the right way is essential to avoiding injury and getting the most out of your running program. We’ll teach you proper running form, and we also use motion video analysis to break down your movement.

    We can also teach you warm-up exercises to do before your run, and the best static stretches to do after.

  • Injury prevention Once you start a running program, you want to make sure you stay that way. We’ll help you optimize your wellness through a customized program that improves strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination while running or performing other exercises.
  • Addressing injuries if they occur — If you do sustain an injury, a physical therapist can help you get back to running and other things you love doing most quickly and safely. If you’re suffering from significant soreness, a physical therapist can reduce inflammation and pain in your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.

Whether want to get healthier, or get back to the top of your game after an injury or surgery, the Concord, MO physical therapists at Axes are here to help you develop and maintain your beginner running program.

Our Concord, MO physical therapists can also assist you with:

Beginner Running Tips Concord, MO | Beginner Running Running | Physical Therapists Near Concord

Call Axes to Start Your Beginner Running Program in Concord, MO

Starting a beginner running program in Concord, MO can offer numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. However, many people aren’t sure how to start, or are nervous about how it’s going to go. Professional physical therapists like those at Axes can help by developing a comprehensive exercise program that will ensure you can get the benefits of running without hurting yourself. If you’re thinking about starting a beginner running program in Concord, MO, request an appointment online, or reach out to the Axes location closest to you.

Services Offered

Services Offered
  • Physical Therapy
    • Pre/Post Surgical Rehabilitation
    • Acute Injury Management
    • Chronic Injury Management
  • Work Conditioning/Hardening
  • Functional Capacity Evaluations
  • Certified Hand Therapy
  • Sports Physical Therapy
  • Pediatric Orthopedic Physical Therapy
  • Geriatric Physical Therapy
  • Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
  • Spine Specialty – Certified Manual Therapy
  • Trigger Point Dry Needling
  • Free Injury Screenings
  • Kinesio Taping®
  • Blood Flow Restriction Therapy
  • Certified Wellness Coaching

Our Team

Stephen Brunjes
OTR/L, CEAS
Brian Wahlig
Front Office Supervisor
Sarah Schroeder
MOTR/L, CHT, Astym Cert
Mandy Carter
MSPT, CMPT, ATC, CWC
Ray Bauer
Clinic Director, MSPT, CMPT

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