ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Understanding Running Injuries & Getting Back Stronger with Kate Mihevc Edwards, PT, DPT, OCS
What if the pain you're feeling while running isn't actually caused by the place that hurts?
On this episode of Running Miles with Heart Disease CHD, Josh sits down with Kate Mihevc Edwards, PT, DPT, OCS, a doctor of physical therapy and board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist with more than 15 years of experience working with runners and endurance athletes.
Kate takes us deep into running injuries, rehabilitation, strength training, recovery, fueling, running shoes, and returning to competition after injury.
One of the biggest takeaways is that running injuries are rarely caused by one thing. Training load, recovery, sleep, nutrition, stress, strength, biomechanics, and life outside of running can all affect how much stress the body can handle.
We discuss why runners often wait too long to seek professional help and why a good evaluation needs to look at the whole athlete—not just the painful body part.
🏃 Injury Prevention: Why sudden increases in training and insufficient recovery are major contributors—and why the popular "10% rule" doesn't tell the whole story.
🦵 Common Running Injuries: Knee pain, Achilles tendinopathy, hamstring problems, posterior tibialis issues, and bone stress injuries.
🔥 Achilles Rehab: Kate explains progressive loading and why rehabilitation may progress from strengthening to plyometrics, sprinting, and eventually running.
🦴 Bone Stress Injuries: Warning signs runners should never ignore and why these injuries require a different approach.
👟 Running Shoes: Comfort, shoe rotation, carbon-plated shoes, heel-to-toe drop, shoe lifespan, foot swelling, and heel-lock lacing.
💪 Strength Training: Why runners need strong hips, feet, ankles, calves, and a resilient kinetic chain.
🍎 Fueling & RED-S: How low energy availability can affect performance, recovery, bone health, tendons, immunity, and healing.
😴 Recovery: Why sleep, nutrition, and rest days remain the foundation of recovery.
We talk about one of the biggest mistakes runners make: returning to full training before they are truly ready.
Kate explains why rehabilitation shouldn't end simply because the pain is gone. Strength, functional testing, plyometrics, sport-specific training, and psychological readiness all play a role in returning safely to running and racing.
Her message is important for every runner: listen to the signals your body is giving you.
And perhaps most importantly, Kate reminds us that running should still be fun. Fuel properly, recover properly, progress gradually, and don't let negative self-talk take the joy out of the sport.
Website: www.katemihevcedwards.com
Precision Performance & Physical Therapy: www.precisionpt.org
RUNsource / Fast Bananas: www.fastbananas.com
Instagram: @katemihevcedwards | @precisionpt_atl | @FBrunsource
LinkedIn: Kate Mihevc Edwards — linkedin.com/in/kate-mihevc-edwards
Podcast: Interdisciplinary Case Miles — available on major podcast platforms.
Atlanta Clinic: 1145 Zonolite Rd #10, Atlanta, GA 30306
Serenbe Clinic: 11090 Serenbe Lane #310, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268
Phone: 404-343-3314
Email: admin@precisionpt.org
Services: Running gait analysis, physical therapy, strength and mobility training, dry needling, manual therapy, shockwave therapy, BFR training, sports nutrition resources, and runner education.
Listen to the full conversation with Kate Mihevc Edwards on Running Miles with Heart Disease CHD—and share this episode with a runner who needs to hear it!
What We CoverReturning to RunningConnect With Kate
