Injuries are common among runners, whether muscle pain, joint pain or tendinopathy. Knowing who to see quickly reduces the risk of complications and helps you return to running with peace of mind.
Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, different health professionals may be involved — each with a specific role in your care pathway.
Key message: Early care by the right specialist generally leads to a faster recovery and limits the risk of recurrence.
Professionals to consult
Each professional comes in at a key stage of your care.
The general practitioner (GP) is the first professional to see when you are in pain. They assess the injury, refer you to the right specialist and prescribe the necessary tests.
- Assessment and severity grading
- Prescription of tests (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI)
- Referral to a sports physician
The sports physician specialises in injuries related to physical activity. They make a precise diagnosis, propose appropriate treatment and advise on returning to sport.
- Precise diagnosis of running conditions
- Appropriate, personalised treatment
- Return-to-training protocol
The physiotherapist often steps in after the medical consultation to rehabilitate, strengthen and correct the imbalances that caused the injury.
- Muscle and joint rehabilitation
- Strengthening of weak areas
- Correction of posture and running gait
A sports podiatrist is recommended if the injury is related to running gait, posture or the foot. They analyse biomechanics and can prescribe orthotic insoles.
- Walking and running gait analysis
- Custom orthotic insoles
- Advice on choosing shoes
📍 Our team in Bayonne
These health professionals support runners in the Basque Country every day.
General Practitioner
Sports Medicine Certificate (Capacité de Médecine du Sport)
Physician for the Sport-Health section of Aviron Bayonnais · Maison Sport Santé NIVADOUR
Sports Physiotherapist
Specialised rehabilitation for runners and sports conditions
Sports Podiatrist
Gait analysis, orthotic insoles, runner biomechanics
Finding the right help when injured
Always start with your GP
They are the first link in the chain of care. They can refer you to the right specialist and prescribe the necessary tests from the very first consultation.
Don’t wait for the pain to get worse
An injury that is treated quickly generally heals faster. Continuing to run on undiagnosed pain can turn a minor injury into a chronic condition.
Physio and podiatrist: complementary, not interchangeable
The physiotherapist works on muscle and joint rehabilitation, while the podiatrist deals with the biomechanics of the foot and running gait. In many cases, both are needed.
Our commitment
A multidisciplinary team serving runners
At the Institut Basque du Coureur, the physician, physiotherapist and podiatrist work together to provide comprehensive care — from diagnosis to return to training.