APTA Rehabilitating the Runner: A Simple Approach to Evaluation, Treatment, and Return to Sport

Strengthen your ability to evaluate running-related injuries, develop targeted rehabilitation strategies, and safely progress runners back to sport.

Explore differential diagnosis and examination of common running-related injuries, including tendinopathies, bone stress injuries, and other lower-quarter conditions. Apply evidence-based approaches to exercise prescription, clearance testing, and individualized return-to-run and return-to-sport programming while considering the clinical, physiological, and psychosocial factors that influence recovery.

What You’ll Learn

By completing this course, you'll be able to:

• Explain foundational principles of bone biology, tendon biomechanics, and bone stress injury development, including relevant risk factors such as RED-S and the athlete triad.
• Differentiate common running-related injuries across the lower quarter using subjective screening, objective examination, functional testing, and running gait analysis.
• Apply evidence-based clinical decision-making to manage low- and high-risk running injuries, identify red flags, and determine when surgical referral may be appropriate.
• Design individualized return-to-run and return-to-sport programs based on injury severity, examination and imaging findings, and progression of training variables.
• Integrate clinical, physiological, and psychosocial considerations into comprehensive rehabilitation planning for runners.

Course Highlights

• Live, interactive learning: Participate in a six-hour, in-person course focused on the evaluation, rehabilitation, and return to sport of runners.
• Clinical decision-making: Strengthen your ability to differentiate common running-related injuries and make rehabilitation and progression decisions based on the individual athlete's presentation.
• Return-to-sport programming: Develop individualized return-to-run and return-to-sport progressions for common injuries affecting the trunk and lower extremity.
• Earn CEUs: 0.6 CEUs (6 contact hours)

Registration Rates

• APTA member PTs, PTAs, and post-professionals: $279
• Nonmembers: $429

Additional Registration Information

• Registration closes: Oct. 16, 2026
• Live event date: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
• Location: APTA Centennial Center, 3030 Potomac Ave., Alexandria, VA 22305
• Capacity: Limited to 50 participants. If the course reaches capacity, you will have the option to join the waitlist.

This course is part of the 2nd Annual Marine Corps Marathon Weekend CEU event. If you're interested in volunteering for the Marine Corps Marathon as a PT or PTA, visit the “Join the On-Site PT/PTA Volunteer Team” tab above.

Course Instructions

1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns please email [email protected]. 

If you are interested in volunteering as part of the on-site PT/PTA medical team at the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, October 25, 2026, please complete the APTA Volunteer Sign-Up form by Sunday, October 18.

• Enrollment in this course is not required to volunteer.
• Volunteers are welcome from any state - only a valid PT or PTA license required. 
• While sports specialists are encouraged to join, being a specialist is not required. 
• Students are also welcome to sign up to volunteer!