Of all the costs associated with running, doctor and physical therapy visits are the biggest bummer for me. Unfortunately, over the past few years visits to the doctor and physical therapist have become a somewhat regular occurrence.
Medical provider visits aren’t cheap. Even if you have good insurance, you probably still have to pay a copay, and those add up quickly. Over the past couple years, the costs of my medical visits have surpassed the cost of pretty much anything else running-related — partly because injuries have kept me from running as much which has kept me from running as many races and buying as many shoes.
If you’re looking to avoid medical bills related to running, here are some tips:
1. Run less.
It’s my least favorite thing to do myself, but the fact is that more running leads to more injuries. Don’t get me wrong: running is good for you. Runners actually suffer less from arthritis of the knees, so don’t let anyone tell you running will ruin your knees. Still, more mileage means a higher chance of overuse injuries, so if you are injury-prone, consider cutting back your mileage.
2. Cross train.
Cycle, ski, pedal an elliptical — not only will these activities improve your aerobic fitness, they can also help you avoid injuries if you’re using those activities to replace some running.
3. Prehab.
Do running-specific strength training to strengthen muscle and connective tissue to help make your body more resistant. If you can find a personal trainer who specializes in running-related exercises to help you set up a routine, all the better.
4. If you do end up injured and visiting the doctor and/or physical therapist, do your exercises.
Do the exercises you’re given and avoid future office visits.
Being derailed by running injuries is no fun. Neither is having to pay for trips to the doctor. I hope these tips will help you avoid injury and save some money.
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