5 Common Running Injuries (and What to Do About Them!)
If you love running, you know that it’s rarely pain-free. In fact, there are all types of running injuries. Being a high impact form of exercise, running puts more strain on your joints than other forms of exercise. This can lead to niggling pains and injuries.
But there are ways you can deal with, and even prevent, these injuries. Read on to see 5 of the most common running injuries and how you can give yourself the best chance of not only treating them but preventing them altogether.
1. Runner’s Knee
Patellofemoral syndrome, or runner’s knee to most of us, is a term that refers to pain across the front of the knee. It is the result of issues between the patella (kneecap) and the femur (thighbone).
The condition can cause the cartilage around the knees to wear away, causing friction. This is likely the cause of your knee pain.
Rest is the best treatment, along with modifications to movements with the help of a physiotherapist.
2. Shin Splints
If you feel a dull pain along the surface of your shins, you may be suffering from shin splints, which is one of the most common running injuries. This is a fairly mild condition that gets better with rest, but if you decide to persevere and “run through the pain”, you could end up doing more damage.
3. Achilles Tendinitis
The Achilles tendon, named after the Greek hero with a weakness in the heel, is relatively vulnerable. This is due to the limited blood supply it receives and the range of forces we apply to it.
The ‘itis’ in these conditions basically means there is inflammation. This tends to calm down with rest, but can be a painful and irritating injury.
4. Plantar Fasciitis
Have you ever felt a shooting pain in the sole of your foot when running? Sometimes, plantar fasciitis can feel like you’ve stepped on a pin but in reality, it is an inflammation of the ligament that connects your heel to the toes.
Failing to warm up, or running with a preexisting injury can be causes of plantar fasciitis. This is due to the extra exertion on the ligaments as they compensate for the lack of support from elsewhere in the leg.
Again, rest can help with this condition, along with exercises to help warm and stretch the ligament.
5. Stress Fracture
One of the injuries that can come from persevering through the pain is a stress fracture. If, for example, you decide to keep running with shin splints, the continued stress can cause a small crack in the bone.
Protect Yourself From Running Injuries
Rest is absolutely vital. Having goals and working hard to achieve them is admirable, but a lack of rest can cause all sorts of problems. Now that you are aware of some of the most common running injuries and how to avoid them, you can run with confidence.
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