Quick guide
This page provides general health information and does not diagnose an individual condition. Persistent, worsening or concerning symptoms should be assessed by an appropriately qualified health professional.

It may be worth stopping or reducing when…

Pain is sharp, escalating or changes your running gait.
There is focal bone tenderness, swelling or concern for stress injury.
Pain persists during normal walking or at rest.
You experienced a sudden pop, significant twist or traumatic injury.
Symptoms worsen from run to run despite reducing distance or intensity.

What is important to understand

Mild load-related symptoms do not always require complete rest.
Sometimes reducing distance, speed, hills or frequency is enough while rehabilitation begins.
Use the response during the run and over the following 24 hours to judge whether load is being tolerated.
Cross-training can maintain fitness while reducing impact.
A gradual return is usually safer than jumping straight back to previous training volume.

When not to wait
Stop running and seek prompt assessment for inability to bear weight, significant swelling or bruising, suspected fracture or tendon rupture, neurological symptoms, or focal bone pain that is worsening or present at rest.

The Footpath Health approach

Footpath Health is designed to help you move from a symptom or question toward an appropriate next step without pretending that an online article can make an individual diagnosis. Sometimes that next step is self-management; sometimes it is podiatry, physiotherapy or GP assessment; and sometimes imaging or specialist care is appropriate.

Still not sure what the right next step is?

Tell Footpath Health what is bothering you and we can help guide you towards the most appropriate type of healthcare professional.

Start the Footpath Health assessment →