when a runner needs a diagnostic test 🧮

Published 14 days ago • 1 min read

"What you see is all there is."
Daniel Kahneman

It’s easy to talk to patients about exercises and training.

But many running-related injuries are health problems masquerading as strength or training problems.

Rehab pros must know how to screen for factors at play outside of orthopedics. And there's new research to help with just that.

Where do we start?

There is a growing body of evidence that metabolic factors influence bone stress injuries (and really all injuries).

PTs are often the first (or only) provider interested in broader influences impacting musculoskeletal injuries. We are pseudo-primary care providers for many of our patients. While I can't order a blood test or a DXA scan, I need to be able to recognize when we need more information.

This helpful algorithm from Nye, outlines how to systematically assess metabolic factors after a BSI 👇.

With specific lab tests are broken down into four options 👇.

If an injury seems like more than just a "training error," we can at least start by looking at a CBC, iron panel, and vitamin D.

If a patient fits the following criteria, we may need to consider a DXA scan.

If you'd like a deeper dive on this article and metabolic screening with runners, you can check out the following video 👇.

Lightbringer
by Pierce Brown

Rwanda Roast
by Post Coffee

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me.
Have a great rest of your weekend.

-Nathan Carlson PT, DPT

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
Unsubscribe · Preferences

helping young runners avoid roadblocks 🛣️

At the end of July, I'm helping with a local local high school running camp with my friend Jeremy Hammer, owner of KC Endurance. This four-day camp is designed to bring runners together and sharpen their skills in training, injuries, nutrition, and mental health. There are a few key things I think all young runners should understand, which I'll be sharing with the camp. Basic health screenings High school runners must pass a preseason physical before being allowed to practice and compete....

7 days ago • 3 min read

are you a clinician or a chatbot? 🤖

“It takes a while to hear a person’s story and for that person to tell it, and like most stories it bounces all over the place before you know what the plot really is.” Lori Gottlieb When I order a coffee, I want a coffee. Preferably, a single-origin pour-over from Kenya or Ethiopia. I don't want a conversation about politics, theology, or Andy Reid's unwillingness to move away from an RPO-style running game. I want coffee. Patients don't come to us looking for caffeine, but they do come with...

21 days ago • 3 min read

a real-world look at managing BSIs 😎

It can be hard to filter the massive amount of information that we (and our patients/athletes) contend with. In today's newsletter, you've got an exclusive video where I walk you through the differential diagnosis and management of a potential femoral shaft BSI. My goal is to give you a more realistic view of how rehab unfolds, rather than the spliced-up, in-your-face version you see on social. You can check out the case by clicking below 👇. I'd love your thoughts on one thing... I'm running...

28 days ago • 1 min read

Nathan Carlson PT, DPT