Injured, dealing with a recurring niggle or struggling to get back to training?
Sports injuries can be frustrating — particularly when they're stopping you from running, training or doing the sport you enjoy.
At The Manx Myo, I provide personalised Myotherapy assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for runners, cyclists, gym-goers and active people in Geelong.
Whether you're dealing with a new injury, a problem that keeps coming back or you're unsure how to return to training, we'll assess what's happening and develop a plan around you, your sport and your goals.
Running & sports injuries I commonly see
You don't need to know exactly what's causing your symptoms before booking.
People commonly come to The Manx Myo with:
Calf pain
Achilles tendon pain
Hamstring injuries and tendinopathy
Knee pain
Hip and gluteal pain
Plantar heel pain
Shin and lower-leg pain
Ankle and foot problems
Shoulder pain
Back and neck pain
Muscle strains
Recurring sporting niggles
Pain that appears as training volume or intensity increases
Your assessment will help us build a clearer picture of what's going on and determine an appropriate way forward.
Why do running and sports injuries happen?
There's rarely one simple explanation.
Injuries can be influenced by a combination of factors including:
Changes in training volume or intensity
Returning to sport after time away
Increasing speed, hills or competition
The demands of your particular sport
Previous injuries
Strength and physical capacity
Recovery between training sessions
Sleep and general health
Sudden accidents or trauma
Rather than searching for one single "root cause", we'll look at your individual situation and identify factors that may be relevant to your symptoms and recovery.
How can Myotherapy help with a sports injury?
Your treatment isn't limited to massage or one particular technique.
The aim is to understand the problem, help manage your symptoms and build your capacity for the activities you want to return to.
Depending on your presentation, your appointment may include:
Assessment
We'll discuss your injury, training history, current symptoms and sporting goals.
Where appropriate, I'll assess relevant movement, strength and function.
For runners, we'll also discuss your recent running volume, intensity and any changes you've made to your training.
Hands-on treatment
Massage and other soft tissue techniques may be incorporated to help manage muscular pain, sensitivity and stiffness.
Dry needling
Dry needling may be used where appropriate as one component of your treatment.
It's not necessary for every injury and won't be used simply because you're an athlete.
Joint mobilisation
Manual joint mobilisation techniques may be incorporated where appropriate depending on your assessment.
Exercise rehabilitation
Exercise is an important part of many sports-injury rehabilitation plans.
Your exercises will be selected based on your current capacity, injury and sporting goals.
Rather than giving you a huge generic exercise program, I prefer a smaller number of exercises with a clear purpose.
Training & load management
Sometimes you don't need to stop everything.
We can look at what you're currently doing, what aggravates your symptoms and what you can continue while your injury settles and your capacity improves.
Do I need to stop training if I'm injured?
Not always.
There's a big difference between ignoring an injury and pushing through it and finding an appropriate level of activity that you can currently tolerate.
Depending on your injury, you may be able to continue some training while temporarily modifying other areas.
For a runner, that could mean changing distance, speed, hills or frequency.
For someone in the gym, it might involve temporarily modifying a particular exercise, load or range of movement.
For a cyclist, it could involve adjusting training intensity or volume.
The goal is to keep you doing as much as is appropriate while gradually rebuilding towards your normal training.
Running injury treatment
Running injuries are something I particularly enjoy working with.
Common running presentations include:
Calf pain
Knee pain
Hip and gluteal pain
Plantar heel pain
Shin pain
Lower back pain
One of the first things we'll look at is what's been happening with your training.
Has your weekly distance changed?
Have you recently introduced faster running, hills or longer runs?
Are you preparing for an event?
Have you recently returned after a break?
Your rehabilitation should take into account the demands you're ultimately trying to return to — not simply whether the painful area feels better on the treatment table.
Should runners strength train?
Strength training can be a useful part of a runner's overall training and rehabilitation.
If you're recovering from an injury, exercises can be selected to gradually build the capacity of the areas involved and prepare you for the demands of running.
That might involve strengthening the calf, hamstrings, quadriceps, hips or other areas depending on your presentation.
Your program should be specific to you, rather than every runner receiving exactly the same set of exercises.
What about cycling injuries?
Cycling has been a major part of my life, so I understand how frustrating it can be when pain starts interfering with riding.
Cyclists may present with problems involving:
Knees
Lower back
Neck
Shoulders
Hips
Calves and Achilles
Muscle soreness associated with training
Your treatment will consider your symptoms alongside your training and the physical demands of cycling.
Where appropriate, we'll use hands-on treatment alongside movement and strength work to help you work towards returning to your normal riding.
What happens at your first appointment?
We'll start by discussing:
Your injury or symptoms
When the problem started
What aggravates or eases it
Your current training
Recent changes to your training
Previous injuries
Upcoming races or events
What you're currently unable to do
What you want to get back to
Where appropriate, I'll then assess relevant movement, strength and function.
We'll discuss what we've found and develop a plan.
Depending on your presentation, your appointment may include hands-on treatment, dry needling, joint mobilisation and targeted exercise.
Before you leave, the aim is for you to understand what we're working on, what you can currently do and what the next step is.
Returning to running or sport after injury
Getting back to sport isn't always as simple as waiting until the pain disappears.
Your body needs to be prepared for the demands you're returning to.
For a runner, that could mean gradually rebuilding:
Running volume
Running frequency
Speed
Hills
Longer runs
Race-specific demands
For another athlete, the demands might involve jumping, changing direction, throwing, lifting or repeated high-intensity efforts.
We'll use your symptoms, function and progress to help guide how your activity is gradually increased.
The aim isn't simply to get you back to some exercise.
It's to help build towards the level of activity that's important to you.
Training for an event?
You don't necessarily need to wait until you're injured to book.
I regularly work with active people preparing for running, cycling and other sporting events.
If you've got a recurring niggle, something isn't feeling right or you're increasing your training for an upcoming event, an assessment can help determine what may need attention.
Whether you're preparing for a local 5km, a marathon, cycling event or another sporting goal, treatment and exercise can be tailored around your current training.
When should a sports injury receive medical assessment?
Some injuries require further investigation or medical assessment rather than — or alongside — Myotherapy.
Seek appropriate medical attention if you experience:
Significant trauma
Inability to bear weight or use the injured area
Obvious deformity
Significant or rapidly increasing swelling
Severe or worsening pain
Significant loss of strength or function
Persistent numbness or altered sensation
Symptoms that aren't progressing as expected
A suspected fracture, significant joint injury, concussion or other potentially serious sporting injury should receive appropriate medical assessment.
If I'm concerned about something during your appointment, I'll recommend further assessment or referral where appropriate.
From competitive sport to Myotherapy
Meet Tom
Hi, I'm Tom Black, owner and Myotherapist at The Manx Myo.
Sport has been a major part of my life long before I became a therapist.
I grew up on the Isle of Man with a passion for cycling and went on to compete internationally, representing the Isle of Man at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Years of training and racing gave me first-hand experience of the demands sport places on the body — including the inevitable niggles, injuries and frustrations that come with training.
That experience ultimately led me into manual therapy and Myotherapy.
These days, running has also become a big part of my own training, which gives me an appreciation of what it's like when an injury interrupts the consistency you've worked hard to build.
My approach combines assessment, hands-on treatment and targeted exercise, with rehabilitation built around the activity you're trying to return to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an elite athlete to book?
Absolutely not.
I work with everyone from recreational runners and gym-goers through to competitive athletes.
Your goal might be completing your first 5km, getting back to Saturday sport, returning to the gym or preparing for a major event.
Your treatment is built around your goals rather than your level of competition.
Can massage help a sports injury?
Hands-on treatment may help manage muscular pain, soreness or stiffness for some people.
However, massage isn't automatically the entire rehabilitation plan.
Depending on your injury, progressive exercise and gradually rebuilding your tolerance to training may be particularly important.
Can dry needling help sports injuries?
Dry needling may be incorporated where appropriate to help manage associated muscular pain or sensitivity.
It's one possible treatment technique rather than a stand-alone solution and isn't required for every sports injury.
Should I train through pain?
It depends on the injury and the symptoms you're experiencing.
Some rehabilitation can involve working within an acceptable level of symptoms, while other injuries require greater modification.
Rather than using a universal rule, we'll determine what's appropriate based on your individual presentation.
How quickly can I return to running?
There's no standard timeframe.
It depends on the injury, its severity, how long you've had symptoms, your current capacity and the level of running you're trying to return to.
Your progression should be based on your individual response rather than simply reaching a particular date on the calendar.
Can you help me prepare for a race?
Yes.
Treatment and exercise can be incorporated around your existing training, particularly if you're managing a niggle or returning from an injury.
The goal isn't to unnecessarily interrupt your training — it's to work with it.
Running & Sports Injury Treatment in Geelong
The Manx Myo provides Myotherapy assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for runners, cyclists and active people from 27 Melbourne Road, Drumcondra, just minutes from Geelong CBD.
Whether you're dealing with a new injury, a recurring niggle or trying to get back to training, we'll develop a plan around your individual presentation and sporting goals.
The Manx Myo
27 Melbourne Road
Drumcondra VIC 3215
Inside Empowered Health Chiropractic
Ready to get back to training?
You don't need to know exactly what's causing your injury before booking.
If pain or injury is interfering with your running, training or sport, we'll assess what's happening and develop a plan to help you work towards the activities that matter to you.