Running Assessment & Injury Treatment
Find the Root Cause of Your Running Pain with a Targeted Assessment and Rehab Plan
Are you frustrated with recurring running pain — in your hamstring, knee, hip, low back, or foot — even though you stretch, roll, and rest? You’re not alone. Many, and in my experience, most serious runners, in Boulder struggle with chronic or recurring running injuries that just won’t go away and are holding them back.
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My Running Assessment and Injury Treatment program helps runners prevent injury or identify the root cause of their pain, accelerate healing, and build long-term movement resilience.​​​
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Running Assessment & Injury Treatment
This service incorporates:
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A detailed, runner-specific evaluation and treatment session
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A custom rehab program based on a 3-phase framework
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Flexible rehab support options to fit your goals and budget
Step 1: Your Evaluation and Treatment Session
Your first session includes a comprehensive biomechanical and movement analysis tailored for runners, along with hands-on treatment to address pain and dysfunction.
What your Evaluation Includes:
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Gait and stride analysis
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Functional movement testing
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Muscle activation and coordination assessment
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Stability and force-absorption testing
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Runner-specific mobility and flexibility analysis
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Identification of asymmetries and compensations
This process is backed by my 20+ years of experience and Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I use expert pattern recognition to uncover the subtle mechanical imbalances that are often missed — especially in high-level or long-time runners.
Clue: The issue isn’t usually where the pain is. For example, if you have a chronic hamstring strain or tendonosis, it's not because your hamstring is weak.
Treatments During Your Session May Include:
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Shockwave therapy for chronic tendon or soft tissue pain
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Dry needling with E-stim for neuromuscular reset
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NeuX NXPro stimulation to accelerate muscle reactivation
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Manual therapy to improve mobility and reduce stiffness
Step 2: We'll Build Your Custom Rehab Plan
Using My (3-Phase Framework)
Based on your evaluation results, I develop a progressive plan to address the root of your injury and restore optimal running function -- whether you are continuing training or getting back to training after an injury.
Phase 1 — Activation & Stability
I target muscles that should be firing but aren’t — especially glutes, abductors, rotators, core, and foot intrinsics — and help them work in the correct sequence.
Key focus:
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Neuromuscular activation
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Pelvic & hip stability
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Controlled force absorption
Phase 2 — Functional Strength & Movement Integration
Once activation patterns are restored, I integrate them into dynamic, running-specific strength and movement drills that reinforce efficient mechanics.
Key focus:
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Movement integration
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Functional strength
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Load tolerance improvement
Phase 3 — Plyometrics & Return-to-Run
Running is a high-force, repetitive plyometric activity. In this final phase, I build your ability to absorb force and transfer it while maintaining movement quality.
Key focus:
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Plyometric readiness
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Force acceptance
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Smooth, pain-free transition back to full mileage
Step 3: Choose Rehab Support Options That Fit Your Goals
Choose the level of support that works best for your lifestyle, training schedule, and budget. Visit frequency can be customized between these two options:
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Self-Guided Plan with Occasional Check-Ins
You receive a tailored home program delivered via PhysiApp with clear video demos and written cues. Occasional follow-ups help monitor progress and make adjustments.
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Weekly Hands-On Program
Get consistent 1-on-1 guidance to stay accountable and maximize your return to running. Ideal for those seeking structure and faster results.
Schedule Your Running Assessment Today
Ready to finally fix what’s been holding your running back — or prevent future injury with a proactive approach?
Book your Running Assessment and Injury Treatment session in Boulder today.
With over 20 years of experience in physical therapy, I combine modern, cutting-edge technologies like ESWT and EPAT with a holistic approach to physical therapy, and health and wellness. I take a whole-person approach to your personalized treatment, ensuring that you receive the comprehensive plan of care that best suits your needs, helping you achieve pain relief and optimal health.
FAQs About Running Assessment & Injury Treatment
What is a running assessment and why do I need one?
A running assessment is a detailed movement analysis that identifies biomechanical issues, muscle imbalances, and compensation patterns that contribute to running pain or inefficiency. It’s the first step to creating a targeted treatment plan.
Can you treat chronic running injuries like IT band syndrome or plantar fasciitis?
Yes. I use advanced tools such as shockwave therapy, dry needling, and movement retraining to address common chronic conditions that often plague runners at their root, rather than simply masking symptoms. In most cases, an area presents with pain or chronic tightness because it is overworking to compensate for something else in the kinetic chain that is not doing its job effectively. For example, lateral thigh pain—often referred to as IT band syndrome—is almost always related to a lack of stability at the hip. For this reason, we use expert evaluation and targeted exercise to address the underlying mechanical cause, while also using modalities and hands-on treatment to manage symptoms and help accelerate the healing process.
Is this only for elite or competitive runners?
Not at all. I work with all levels — from elite athletes to everyday Boulder runners who want to stay active and pain-free.
Can I continue running during treatment?
It depends on the injury and your training needs. Many runners who have the option and patience to temporarily reduce the irritating activity (running) are able to begin a gradual return to running in Phase 2 or 3 of their plan—often sooner than expected when proper muscle activation, movement correction, and supportive modalities are in place. Professional runners, or those for whom taking a break is less feasible, are often able to continue training during treatment with appropriate modifications and close monitoring.
Why choose Colin O'Banion Physical Therapy for a Running Assessment and Injury Treatment?
With over 20 years of experience in physical therapy, I combine modern, cutting-edge technologies like ESWT and EPAT (shockwave) with a holistic approach to physical therapy, and health and wellness. I take a whole-person, whole-body approach to your care, evaluating and treating the musculoskeletal system as an interconnected and interdependent whole. This allows me to create a personalized, comprehensive plan of care that addresses the underlying contributors to pain and dysfunction, helping you achieve lasting relief and optimal movement health.