According to a study conducted by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, athletes or those who exercise often but aren’t prone to injury have better impact loading. Impact loading is “the way our heels pound on the ground as we run,” which determines how much force is exerted on the feet. Those who landed with less force on their heels were able to avoid injury. Increasing your cadence, or the “number of steps per minute,” can help reduce the force exerted on your feet as you run. Other solutions include stretching before and after exercise, and investing in shock-absorbing shoe insoles.
Runners can still be prone to running injuries even with proper precautions. For more information about treatment, consult with Dr. Joshua David Scoll of Pennsylvania. Our doctor will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.
How to Prevent Running Injuries
Many common running injuries are caused by overuse and overtraining. When the back of the kneecap starts wearing out and starts causing pain in your knee, this is commonly referred to as runner’s knee. Runner’s knee is a decrease in strength in your quadriceps and can occur if you’re not wearing properly fitted or supporting shoes. To prevent runner’s knee, focusing on hip strengthening is a good idea, as well as strengthening your quads to keep the kneecaps aligned.
What Are Some Causes of Running Injuries?
- One cause of a common running injury is called iliotibial band syndrome.
- Plantar fasciitis is also another common injury.
- Stress fractures can occur from overtraining, lack of calcium, or even your running style.
Best Ways to Prevent Running Injuries
- Wear footwear that fits properly and suits your running needs.
- Running shoes are the only protective gear that runners have to safeguard them from injury.
- Make a training schedule. Adding strengthening exercises as well as regular stretching can help keep you strong and limber and can lessen the possibility of injuries.
- Stretching keeps muscles limber, this will help you gain better flexibility.
If you have any questions, please contact our offices located in Philadelphia and Bensalem, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
