Udział fizjoterapii w ochronie stóp osób biegających rekreacyjnie / Role of physiotherapy in protecting the feet of recreational runners

Abstract

Running is the basic means of rapid locomotion and the simplest form of recreational physical activity. The popularity of this form of physical activity stems from its general accessibility and anticipated health benefits. Regardless of the motivation for running, it must not pose a threat to health. This study focuses on the role of physiotherapy in protecting the structures and functions of runners’ feet. Their dysfunction disrupts the functioning of the entire musculoskeletal system and has a negative impact on the whole body. Protecting the health of people who run involves reliable medical qualification and supervision for this form of activity, planning running training, its circumstances and implementation, proper biological regeneration after intense exercise, and, in the case of sports injuries, the implementation of proper treatment and rehabilitation. The aim of the study was to assess the scope and conditions of physiotherapy measures in health protection, with particular emphasis on the feet of recreational runners. The assessment was based on information obtained from n=152 runners through an anonymous diagnostic survey conducted using a proprietary questionnaire, which also used the Borg scale. Only 75 (49.3%) respondents underwent qualification and medical examination during training. During the races, 80 (52.6%) runners suffered foot injuries of varying severity; only 48 (60.0%) of them used physiotherapy to recover. According to the respondents, the highest effectiveness (on a scale of 0 to 10) was achieved with manual therapy (7.49±2.97), massage (6.72±3.49), and kinesiotherapy (7.43±3.22). Physiotherapy in the treatment of foot injuries was significantly influenced (p≤0.05) by the number of injuries, their severity, motivation to run, and coexisting back pain. The socio-environmental characteristics of the respondents were not significant. Physiotherapy is not sufficiently used in the organization of running training and after sports injuries of the feet.

Running is the basic means of rapid locomotion and the simplest form of recreational physical activity. The popularity of this form of physical activity stems from its general accessibility and anticipated health benefits. Regardless of the motivation for running, it must not pose a threat to health. This study focuses on the role of physiotherapy in protecting the structures and functions of runners’ feet. Their dysfunction disrupts the functioning of the entire musculoskeletal system and has a negative impact on the whole body. Protecting the health of people who run involves reliable medical qualification and supervision for this form of activity, planning running training, its circumstances and implementation, proper biological regeneration after intense exercise, and, in the case of sports injuries, the implementation of proper treatment and rehabilitation. The aim of the study was to assess the scope and conditions of physiotherapy measures in health protection, with particular emphasis on the feet of recreational runners. The assessment was based on information obtained from n=152 runners through an anonymous diagnostic survey conducted using a proprietary questionnaire, which also used the Borg scale. Only 75 (49.3%) respondents underwent qualification and medical examination during training. During the races, 80 (52.6%) runners suffered foot injuries of varying severity; only 48 (60.0%) of them used physiotherapy to recover. According to the respondents, the highest effectiveness (on a scale of 0 to 10) was achieved with manual therapy (7.49±2.97), massage (6.72±3.49), and kinesiotherapy (7.43±3.22). Physiotherapy in the treatment of foot injuries was significantly influenced (p≤0.05) by the number of injuries, their severity, motivation to run, and coexisting back pain. The socio-environmental characteristics of the respondents were not significant. Physiotherapy is not sufficiently used in the organization of running training and after sports injuries of the feet.