Running Injuries
Running, both as a competitive sport and as a way of keeping fit for the recreational athlete, is becoming increasingly popular. Running requires the body to absorb repeated high forces and the success of the body being able to withstand these forces can be influenced by a variety of factors. Running injuries are commonplace in the sports injury clinic and usually present as an ‘overuse’ type injury.
Our body shape and individual biomechanics have the greatest influence on determining how much running we are able to do before becoming vulnerable to developing injury. Important ‘intrinsic’ (personal) factors to consider are:
- Muscle balance
- Flexibility
- Cardiovascular fitness
- Weight
We also need to consider’ extrinsic’ (environmental) factors such as:
- Footwear
- Training surface
- Suitability of training programme
- Intensity of training programme including volume of running
The individual interaction between these intrinsic and extrinsic factors is complicated and can contribute to injury. Research has shown that the total volume of running undertaken and sudden changes in volume or intensity of running are the major predictors of injury.
