How a runner abolishes her low back pain

“Hi, do you do physiotherapy for runners? I’m doing the South Downs Ultra Marathon in 7 days time and right now, I can’t run more than a mile…”

That was my initial conversation with Harriet, an experienced ultra runner who had been stopped in her tracks by low back pain. She told me she could not run more than a mile, nothing unusual there.

What was unusual was that she had plans to run the South Downs ultra-marathon (100 miles) in 7 days time…

It turns out that she had received physiotherapy treatment already that week, but it had not resolved her problem or given her the confidence to run. We discussed her situation further, I made sure that she understood that I don’t do ‘usual physiotherapy’ and booked her in for an assessment.

At her initial session it transpired that Harriet had suffered an ankle injury earlier in the year. This had resolved but it was the same side as her low back pain. She had previous experience of ultra-marathons, but this would be the longest race that she would have entered. And she was going to run the race with her Mum.

Her disappointment was obvious

We took all of this into account as we explored her physical movement. It appeared that her body had ‘forgotten’ some critical essentials required for smooth locomotion and gait following the ankle injury. I coached and guided her to make her own discoveries and she was able to leave the session with much less pain.

With 5 days to go before the race, Harriet reported that she had been able to run several miles with significantly less pain. Most importantly she felt she had the confidence to actually enter the race. Such rapid positive physical, mental and emotional changes often occur when working with the nervous system.

Harriet entered and completed the race with her Mum, in 23 hours and 13 minutes.

The only time that she had back pain was on the initial triple mile loop around the base camp, after that she was free of back pain for the remaining 97 miles. Unfortunately, however, I couldn’t save her toenails….

Harriet abolishes her low back pain, her story

“When I went to see Nick, I couldn’t run a mile.

I had hurt my back out on my last long run before what was supposed to be my first 100-mile race on the South Downs Way. I had been to see my usual physio. Their recommendation was that I wasn’t going to manage the race.

With exactly a week to go, I made contact with Nick. I wanted a second opinion; this was my big race of the year and I didn’t entirely trust or understand the diagnosis and treatment I had received thus far.”

Nick’s approach from the outset was different

“His more holistic methodology which took into account the mental and emotional as well as physical felt more constructive. Over the week before the race, I managed several short runs (which was more than I had managed for a fortnight).

The humour, positivity and kindness that informed his treatment gave me the confidence to make the decision to start the race (despite the tight cut off time and worries about the elevation) and the physical tools to do so pain free.

I went from being unable to run a single mile to running 100 miles (completely pain free) in a week. There is absolutely no way I would have managed that without Nick. In fact, I ‘enjoyed’ myself so much I have already signed up for my next 100 miler…”

Harriet, her Mum and and friend on the South Downs Way 100 mile ultra

As a physiotherapist that enjoys running, I can help and guide you back to what you love to do. Click on the contact form below to arrange a discovery call, to discuss how I can help you.

Nick Watson physiotherapist

How I work – simple solutions to complex problems
How we can learn from our pain – learning from painful experiences
Managing persistent pain – finding your way
Treating leg pain with pins and needles – leg pain with pins and needles
Imaging (part 1) – do I need a scan?
(Part 2) – not all spines need a scan
(Part 2) – management of low back pain