Running and Endurance Sports Program
Marathon, sprint, or jog, we go the distance for your run
The Penn Running and Endurance Sports Program was inspired by the region’s local running community to provide specialized care for runners of all ages and experience levels—from couch-to-5k to professional athletes.
Many of our specialists are lifelong runners and athletes themselves; they intimately understand running injuries and the physical demands of running. This experience has led us to develop a comprehensive program to accurately diagnose and treat both common and complex injuries. We focus on enhancing performance by providing personalized plans to optimize recovery, prevent reinjury, and improve overall endurance fitness. Helping you achieve your personal best is one of our professional goals.
The Penn Running and Endurance Sports Program is a collaboration between Penn Sports Medicine and Penn Outpatient Therapy. This ensures you have direct access to experts in sports medicine, including physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, physical therapists, and orthopaedic surgeons. We also work closely with the Penn Center for the Female Athlete to address concerns that are specific to female runners.
Conditions we treat
Treatments and services offered by the Penn Running and Endurance Sports Program
All runners who come to our program undergo a thorough assessment to diagnose their injury and any underlying condition that may be to blame. This process begins with a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s medical and running history to determine what the cause of the problem may be. From there, we conduct a physical exam, as well as imaging tests if needed.
Once a diagnosis has been made, we work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan that is specific to your injury and goals. For most overuse injuries, our sports medicine specialists will recommend a period of rest to reduce the load on your body, as well as pain control, such as ice, medications, or injections based on the condition. Injections may include cortisone injections, trigger point injections for muscular conditions, or platelet rich plasma treatment.
After completing your sports medicine treatment, your specialist may refer you to a Penn Orthopaedics surgeon, if needed, or to a physical therapist. Our sports medicine specialists work hand in hand with physical therapists to develop optimal rehabilitation plans for our patients. In nearly every case, physical rehabilitation is part of the treatment plan and may include some combination of strengthening, balance, and stability exercises, as well as plyometrics, soft tissue mobilization, blood flow restriction training (BFRT), and overall training and health and wellness guidance. Whenever possible, we work with physical therapists who are specifically trained to care for runners.