There’s really no way around this paradox—running is good and bad for you. It’s a great way to lose weight and keep the heart healthy. Still, if you do it long enough, you’ll more than likely become one of the 80% of runners that get injured.
Most of the injuries the average runner will suffer come from what’s called overuse, or repeated force being applied over a long period of time.
Here’s a quick list of the most common issues that crop up whether you’re weekend runner or have more lofty ambitions.
Runner’s Knee
All that repetitious pounding away on the pavement and/or street is bound to take a toll. If you start to feel tenderness behind your kneecap it might be what’s called patellofemoral pain syndrome. Running downhill can make what’s usually called runner’s knee even worse. Cutting back on the amount of running you do this one solution or you can steady your knee using a brace.
Shin Splints
This nagging injury happens when the tendons and muscles that cover the shinbone get overused and inflamed. Supporting the arch of your foot goes a long way to preventing shin splints and that means getting the right kind of insoles that are shock absorbing at the same time.
Proactive measures include running on softer surfaces when you can and avoiding steep inclines. Running uphill puts extra stress on the tibialis muscle in the shin.
Chris Hastings Toronto podiatry clinic features orthotic gait correction. This innovation is built on plaster models that are balanced and corrected to suit your individual needs.
