Running with hip pain may be okay if it’s just muscle soreness from overuse, but if it’s caused by a serious condition or worsens over time, it can cause further damage. Assess the severity of the pain before attempting to run again and know your limits.
The general rule of thumb when dealing with any kind of pain is to stop what you’re doing if it hurts. Beyond that, however, running with hip pain may not be a bad practice if you know what’s causing the pain. Simple muscle soreness from overuse probably won’t exacerbate the pain much more, but it can lead to injury if you push the muscles too hard. If the pain is caused by something more serious, or if the pain worsens over time, running with hip pain can cause further damage to an already damaged muscle, ligament, bone, or other essential part of the hip.
Many runners will feel tenderness or tightness after running for long periods of time. This is generally considered normal, and in this case it’s often okay to run with hip pain, as long as the runner isn’t overexerting himself. Muscles need time to recover so they can perform at their best, but in some cases, a runner may need muscles to perform at a lower level to get through the rest of the race. It is important to know your limits; If the pain is too bad, stop running. If the pain is more of a nuisance, and you can identify the source of the pain, running with hip pain may be okay.
Some more serious conditions can cause pain that will get worse if you choose to continue running with hip pain. Small fractures in the hip bones can spread and become more severe. Muscle strains can turn into complete ruptures. Ligament sprains can turn into tears, and swelling in the joints can lead to a variety of long-term problems. If the pain is debilitating or your normal gait changes, it would be a good decision to stop running with hip pain. If the pain is mild, or if it is familiar to you – pain associated with tired muscles, for example – you can continue running at your own discretion. Keep in mind, however, that tired muscles are tighter than fresh muscles, and that tight muscles are more prone to injury.
If pain develops after a running session ends, assess the severity of the pain before attempting to run again. Try stretching a bit to see if the pain worsens or eases, and try walking easily or briskly to see how your hips and legs are handling the pressure. While it’s best to allow the hip to rest for an adequate amount of time, you may want to consider running with hip pain if the pain goes away or is generally manageable; keep in mind, however, that you do so at the risk of worsening an injury.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
