Hamstring injuries in runners most often develop from high eccentric loading, particularly during the late swing phase of gait when the hamstrings lengthen to decelerate the leg before foot strike. Faster running speeds, sprinting, hills, and fatigue all increase this load. Overstriding further amplifies strain by placing the foot too far ahead of the center of mass, forcing the hamstrings to work harder to control hip and knee motion. This is why many hamstring injuries occu

Shin splints are a common complaint among runners and active individuals, typically causing pain along the inside of the lower leg. Most often, this refers to medial tibial stress syndrome, which occurs when the shin bone and surrounding tissues are overloaded faster than they can adapt. Shin splints can significantly impact training and may alter gait mechanics, potentially leading to injuries elsewhere in the body. They are usually caused by a combination of factors, with t

Our postpartum return-to-run assessment is designed to determine your readiness to safely and confidently transition back to higher-impact activity after childbirth. This comprehensive evaluation focuses on rebuilding strength, restoring pelvic floor and core function, and minimizing your risk of injury.  During your session, we assess: • Abdominal healing, including diastasis recti • Pelvic floor function (with an optional internal exam, if needed) • Full-body strength and m

When we think about physical therapy, we often picture adults recovering from sports injuries or surgeries. But physical therapy plays an equally important - and often life-changing- role for children. Pediatric physical therapy  focuses on helping infants, children, adolescents  and young adults develop the strength, coordination, and mobility they need to participate fully in everyday play, school and life. Who Can Benefit? Physical therapy can be beneficial across the life

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) is a relatively new technique that physical therapists use to help speed up recovery for certain diagnoses and increase strength and muscle coordination. The technique involves using a blood pressure cuff on the extremity or limb where there is pain to decrease venous blood flow. This creates a hypoxic environment that increases growth hormones, muscle hypertrophy, and muscle strength. The goal of BFR is to stimulate a response by the musculoskele

Here are the top 5 considerations when increasing running mileage as you begin marathon build-up, focusing on consistency, performance, and injury prevention: 1. Progression Rate (Don’t Rush the Volume) Follow a gradual increase, commonly ~10% per week in total mileage but this varies depending on current mileage and experience.  Include cutback weeks every 3–4 weeks (reduce volume ~25%) to allow adaptation. Remember : connective tissues (tendon, fascia) adapt slower than car

All runners have heard the saying “But isn’t running bad for your knees?” At some point.  I know I definitely have! It’s a hard myth to shake—especially when there’s a lot of anti-running rhetoric out there. Or someone telling you “they messed up their knee from running years ago.” The good news? Research has been pretty consistent in saying otherwise. Yes, running does load your joints. It’s essentially a series of single-leg hops, so no one’s arguing that your knees aren’t

What the heck does this even mean? Well, in a nutshell, it means breaking up your typical training routine to challenge your body in ways you typically don’t do for injury prevention. Running is a very boring sport for your body from a load perspective. While there are multidirectional forces being placed on the body with every step, you are repeating the same movement 160-180 times per minute for however long you are running for. This is the reason that runners are so prone

Running form is always a fun topic discussed amongst teammates and colleagues. These conversations can lead to a lot of questions about if your running form is “good” or if there is room for improvement. And as PTs, we thrive on identifying body mechanics and how certain parts of your running can be leading to injury, or holding you back from bringing down your PRs. Here are some factors a gait analysis can find that can help make you a faster and healthier runner: Foot strik

Massage therapy can be a valuable component of recovery for marathon runners, addressing both the physical and physiological demands placed on the body during long-distance training and racing. Repetitive loading and prolonged muscle contraction can leave soft tissues fatigued, dehydrated, and stiff. Massage helps improve local circulation and fluid exchange within muscles and fascia, supporting tissue hydration by encouraging the movement of water and nutrients into areas st

is it safe? What is recommended? The first step in deciding whether you can exercise while pregnant is to check with your OBGYN. Once you have been medically cleared, movement is not only safe for most people – it is encouraged! where do you start, and how hard should you work? Stick with what your body already knows. What that movement looks like can vary widely from person to person, but pregnancy is not the time to introduce completely new, high-risk activities. If you wer

January has rolled around once again and it’s the start of a new year (Happy 2026!). This is the time of year where people set ambitious goals, change habits, and try to get a fresh start on things we wish we had been doing for most of the year prior. That’s totally normal -- we’re all human after all. Just as it is normal to annually or routinely check in with your primary care physician, dentist, optometrist, and even specialists such as your OBGYN or cardiologist, it shoul

If you’ve ever been to physical therapy before, you probably have a picture in your head. A busy clinic. Multiple patients at once. A quick check-in with your therapist before being handed off to a bike, heat pack, or exercise sheet—while the clock runs out on your session. Finish Line Physical Therapy is intentionally different. We believe physical therapy should be personal, active, and empowering. You’re not just another appointment on a schedule—you’re an athlete, a runne

Why Single-Leg Strength Is Non-Negotiable for Runners If you’re a runner, here’s a simple but powerful truth: running is a series of single-leg hops. At any given moment, only one foot is on the ground, absorbing forces of 2–3 times your body weight, stabilizing your pelvis, knee, and ankle and propelling you forward. Yet many runners train almost exclusively with double-leg exercises and bilateral strength machines. And the consequences of this imbalance can show up as a var

Running in Cold & Snowy Weather: How to Stay Warm, Dry, and Safe   Winter running can feel intimidating—cold air biting your face, icy sidewalks, slush soaking your shoes—but with the right approach, it can also be incredibly empowering. There’s something magical about heading out when the world is quiet and snowy. The key? Smart layering, weather awareness, and a few winter-specific tweaks. Let’s break it down so you can run confidently no matter what winter throws your way.

Everyone’s process to return to running is different and should be advised by their coach or physical therapists (like the wonderful staff here at Finish Line). This is especially true if you experienced any injuries over the course of the training block.  Countless runners experience an injury (or two or three) during the course of training for a marathon. Some are able to make it through race day despite these injuries. Immediately following the race, most runners take a we

Congratulations!!! You did it! You prepared, you trained for months. You missed birthday parties and social outings. You woke up early and went to bed late. You did all the right things to make it through race day. You thought about this day and dreamed about what it would be like to cross that finish line. And, now, you did the dang thing! HOORAY! But…now what? Post-race blues are real! The emotional and physical drop off following the day is more than just the typical post-

T’was a brisk 35 degree morning in the streets of downtown Philadelphia, on the playground is where I spent most of my days…. Sorry, wrong thought. There was nothing to hear but the sounds of anxious runners and Eagles fans stumbling home from bars at 5 AM. Philadelphia Marathon is known for having insane lines for getting through security, but they were not too bad this year. I was quite impressed that it took all of 5 minutes to get through security and make my way into the

As temperatures drop and outdoor tracks frost over, New York City’s indoor track and field season springs to life. Whether you’re a student-athlete, recreational runner, or a parent trying to understand the fast-paced world of indoor meets, this guide will help you understand the basics. What Makes Indoor Track Different? Indoor track and field takes place in enclosed athletic facilities, typically featuring a 200-meter oval track  (half the length of an outdoor track). Becau

As a former collegiate soccer player, when the weather warms up, I can't help but long for the days of lacing up my cleats and getting back on the field. While I wouldn’t recommend getting into hard tackles a few days before a race or even participating in a league while in a training block for a race (due to risk of injury), there can be additional benefits of incorporating soccer (among other non-running activities) into your schedule in the off-season. If you are going to