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In this episode we speak with Dr. Ben Shatto about overtraining -which is a leading cause of injury and burnout in long distance runners. And in this episode’s quick tip, Angie answers a listener question about how Boston qualifying times work. Continue Reading →
Ankle sprains and strains are a common everyday occurrence. In most cases, the injury is nothing more than a nuisance that temporarily affects your training and mobility.
However, severe cases can lead to a lengthy rehabilitation and even surgery. Continue Reading →
Let’s talk about why it’s important to vary your running surfaces. As runners we often become creatures of habit and run the same routes on the same surfaces week after week.
Depending on the type of mileage and surfaces you run on, doing the same thing over and over again may result in overuse injuries or muscle stagnation.
However, large studies haven’t yet shown a connection between running injuries and whether you routinely run on hard or soft surfaces.
As we run the muscles and tendons act as shock absorbers as your foot lands and then they release energy during the push off phase. The surface that you run on and your running shoes (or lack) also function to absorb and release energy.
The body takes the information from your previous footstrikes (and what your brain knows from experience) and adjusts muscle contractions before the next time your foot hits the ground. Interestingly the body pre-tunes the muscles before your first step onto a new surface. Continue Reading →
Pain in the hip flexor or front of the hip/leg can be associated with several possible causes. When you experience pain in the front of the hip, and it doesn’t have an obvious mechanism of injury (such as tripping in a hole when running), then it’s almost always a repetitive motion injury or related to poor posture and/or biomechanics.
The location of pain in the hip flexor region can range from mid-thigh to the groin area to the lower stomach (from the belly button to the PSIS, which is the posterior superior iliac spine) or the front of the pelvic bone just up and lateral to the groin area where the primary hip flexor (psoas) originates. Continue Reading →
While some runners say stretching is vital to performance and muscle health, others conclude that more dynamic warmups benefit a good run over stretching.
Taking a look at how muscles work together, what stretching really does for the body, and when it is best performed, this quick guide can help answer some of your most pressing stretching questions: Continue Reading →
Pain in the lateral (outside) of the hip or leg can be associated with a condition known as hip bursitis or trochanteric bursitis. This condition is almost always a repetitive motion injury, but it could also be initially caused by direct trauma. In the case of a runner, the condition is most likely a repetitive overuse injury.
As an overuse injury, hip bursitis is caused by repetitive friction over the greater trochanter of the hip bone (which ultimately leads to pain). This excessive friction is almost always due to faulty biomechanics. In this case, it’s faulty running mechanics.
Continue Reading →
Pounding the pavement can quickly come to a halt when you start to feel sharp pangs radiating through your heel.
Heel pain is a common complaint of many runners and it is largely caused by injuries including plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. Continue Reading →
Have you ever wondered why some runners seem to always get injured while others are resilient and seemingly bullet proof?
Injury can be the biggest obstacle you face when trying to be healthy. Acknowledging that you’re injury prone is the first step. Instead of letting the fear of getting hurt stop you from achieving your goals, learn how to take precautions and become a resilient runner. Continue Reading →
Here’s a great question that came in for the recent MTA podcast episode on Injury.
In this Q & A, I discuss Active Release Therapy (ART) and the importance of getting to the root cause of Piriformis Pain.
The Piriformis is a very important muscle in the buttock region. It helps to stabilize the pelvis and femur (the long leg bone) and rotates the leg outward.
It is also a common location for pain! Continue Reading →
The term kinetic chain is basically the a concept that your body is interconnected. We’re made up of fixed segments made mobile by joints and all these segments and joints have an effect on each other in the process of moving.
When one part is in motion it creates a chain of events that impacts other segments of the body (frequently neighboring areas). A weakness, inflammation, or injury can show up in other segments of the body in response to repetitive motion (like running). Continue Reading →
Here’s a great question that came in for the recent MTA podcast episode on Injury.
In this Q & A, I discuss why addressing the root cause of reoccurring shin splints is critical in order to avoid injury and lost training days. Continue Reading →
Here’s a great question that came in for the recent MTA podcast episode on Injury.
Should a person resort to running with “stability shoes” and/or orthotics or minimalistic shoes? What is the role of footwear for runners who are experiencing chronic lower leg overuse injuries?
