SEVEN Most Common Injuries

THE SEVEN MOST COMMON RUNNING INJURIES                                                 Running is a sport of passion and determination; why else would we torture our bodies with miles of punishment every day? Running injuries are an unfortunate, but all too common, occurrence often affecting the hips, knees, ankles, and feet.  Understanding a running injury is the key to effective treatment. There are common warning signs that should be recognised to indicate a potential injury. While some sports injuries are immediately evident, others can creep up slowly and progressively get worse. If you do not pay attention to either types of injuries, chronic ongoing problems can develop. Joint Pain, Tenderness at a specific point, Swelling, Reduced range of motion, Comparative weakness, Numbness and Tingling can all be warning signs of an underlying pathology.   1.    Iliotibial Band Syndrome ( ITB) The iliotibial band is a strong thick, fibrous band that runs along the outside of the leg that spans from the hip to the shin; it lends stability to the knee joint during movement, and is attached to muscles of the thigh. ITBS is caused when the band becomes shortened and tight causing inflammation and tenderness. It is a common running injury among long distance runners Symptoms:  Sharp burning pain on the outside (lateral) aspect of knee. Pain sets in at about the same distance/time on each run.  It can be worse on downhills, on cambered surfaces, walking up or downstairs, or getting up from a seated position.   2. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) Also known as “Runner’s Knee,” PFPS is a broad term used to describe problems associated with the kneecap and is common in runners. It is caused by a combination of many different factors most of which are biomechanical.  Increased body mass, training errors, muscle imbalances (flexibility to strength ratio) and inadequate footwear all play a role.   Symptoms: Tenderness behind, under or around the knee cap. The pain tends to worsen with activity, while descending stairs and after long periods of inactivity.  You may feel or hear grinding or that the knee is giving way. Steps, hills, and uneven terrain can aggravate PFPS.  Pain may occur in one or both knees.   3.Shin Splints’ Shin splints, like runner’s knee, is a vague term that describes a set of symptoms,...
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