Feet are often a neglected piece of the running puzzle. That is because they often hide away and are compensated by footwear. But how important is it to have strong feet for running? Does it reduce risk of injury? Let’s see what the evidence says. The Foot Core System An article published in 2014 introduced […]
Rather than having a running injury and learning how to deal with it, let’s focus being preventative. Because the vast majority of running-related injuries are due to training errors, this means they can be prevented! So, I have written down the four most common situations a runner might encounter which will increase their likelihood of […]
Runners get injured. Runners get injured a lot! Studies show that up to 50-80% of runners are injured every year. So as a physiotherapist I think it is crucial for the longevity of your running career that you understand the different types of running pain. Too many times has a runner limps into a physiotherapy […]
As a runner, learning the pros & cons of each running surface type is a huge advantage because it allows you to adapt in different circumstances. For example, throughout your career you may encounter different injuries and prepare for different races. Therefore, we should dive into the different terrains a runner encounters and learn from […]
Has someone told you your injuries are due to a leg length discrepancy? It can be a concerning, dis-empowering thought for any runner. But do athletes need to be concerned? Let’s look at the research to find the answers. Assessing leg length for runners A paper titled ‘Methods for Assessing Leg Length Discrepancy’ found that […]
Why do runners need strong calves? The calf muscle is responsible for pushing off the ground when running, with demand increasing at higher speeds & uphill terrain. Therefore, with a stronger calf complex, a runner will be able to tolerate faster speeds and greater mileage without injury. Additionally, a stronger calf has been found to […]
Our current understanding of Osteoarthritis in running There are currently leaps forward in our understanding of Osteoarthritis (OA). However, it requires a bigger leap to spread the message into the community. It is a common question. Does running cause OA? It’s truth there are wild, misconceptions about this condition. Among them, beliefs that OA presents […]
Firstly, I must knowledge the work published by Chris Napier & Richard Willy as their article has inspired most on the content within this blog. It is a confusing time to be a runner when buying running shoes because over recent decades, new paradigms continue to surface. Minimalist footwear is one of the most popular […]
Running shoe assessment step 1 Running is a beautiful, simplistic lifestyle. One of the main reasons for its simplicity is you only need running shoes. Therefore, it makes sense to gain insight into a running shoe assessment. Step one is to find the oldest pair of running shoes and turn them upside down to inspect […]
Understanding adaptation: To run without injury In order to run more without injury, you need to understand adaptation. The human body is smart when it’s thrown into an unfamiliar situation. Just look at an elite cyclist and compare their body type to a swimmer. One profession requires a massive demand on the upper body, while […]
