The Autoimmune Link Behind Chronic Running Injuries: Why Some Pains Just Won’t Heal

Have you ever trained hard, done all the right stretches, rolled out, strengthened, and still found yourself stuck with a running injury that just wouldn’t go away? For many competitive runners, the missing piece isn’t another drill or another shoe change—it’s the autoimmune connection.

When Running Injuries Aren’t Just Running Injuries

Recently, I worked with three competitive track runners who had been sidelined by stubborn injuries:

• Case 1: An 800m/1600m runner with chronic right hip pain that wasn’t resolving despite rest and traditional treatments.
• Case 2: A 1600m runner struggling with persistent bilateral knee pain—no amount of mobility work, strength training, or therapy had solved it.
• Case 3: A middle-distance runner with lingering left groin and hip pain that kept flaring up with training.

What we discovered was surprising—each case had an underlying autoimmune driver. Once we cleared the autoimmune stress patterns, their hip, knee, and groin pain resolved. Not only were they back to training, but they were also able to run freer, faster, and without fear.

The Autoimmune–Injury Connection

Here’s what I’ve found in over 40 years of working with athletes and people with chronic conditions: sometimes, the body isn’t just dealing with a local injury. It’s actually protecting itself from deeper systemic stress. When autoimmunity is part of the picture, the body can hold onto pain patterns—even long after the original injury should have healed.

By addressing these root causes through Integrative Manual Therapy and healing work, runners often experience not just pain relief, but also a noticeable boost in stride efficiency, recovery, and overall energy.

Try These Self-Treatments for Hip, Knee & Fascia Pain

I’ve recorded some powerful self-treatment techniques you can try right now to start shifting pain and unlocking performance:

For Right Side Hip/Knee Issues:

For Left Side Hip/Groin Issues:

For Balancing Both Sides:

Ready to Clear the Root Cause?

If you’re a runner in Bellingham, Fairhaven, or anywhere worldwide online, and you’ve been dealing with hip pain, knee pain, plantar fascia pain—or an injury that just won’t go away—there may be more going on than just a training load issue.

By uncovering and clearing autoimmune drivers, you can finally break free from the cycle of pain and get back to what you love: running, training, and living fully again.

—Ralph Havens, PT, Integrative Manual Therapist, Fairhaven – Bellingham, WA

1134-10th Street

Bellinhgham, WA 98225

360.599.2217

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