Running is one of the world’s most popular forms of exercise with millions of regular participants. In Australia about 25% of the population participate in some form of running (1). Running is popular as a means to get and stay fit, as a stand-alone sport, and as a large component in many sporting codes.  AFL, Hockey and soccer athletes often clock upwards of 10 to 17 km / game, while basketball, netball and rugby can cover between 4 to 8km per game.

Although running is an effective way to achieve many health benefits, it is associated with a high risk of injury. On a yearly basis, up to half of runners report an injury (2) with Injury incidence ranging from 19% to 78% among studies (3).

Although some injuries are traumatic, most are due to overuse or poor technique.

Common Running Injuries

Running injuries are common and often affect the (4,5,6.7,8 9, 10):

– Knees,
– Hips,
– Ankles,
– Hamstrings,
– Achilles
– Feet of runners

More than 10 percent of runners will experience hip and/or low back pain over a 12 month period (4).

Around 73 percent of women and 62 percent of men will get an injury, with 56 percent of the injured runners sustaining more than one injury during the 1 year study period. (5)

Our Chiropractors are professionally trained to detect biomechanical faults which can predispose you to injury or hinder your recovery.  They can provide advice, exercises and treatment that may assist your running performance (6,7,8,9,10).

Biomechanical analysis can involve:

• gait analysis- study of your walking
• running annalysis- study of your running style.
• video analysis and motion capture analysis.

Running analysis may assist with (6,7,8,9,10):

• Injuries associated and caused as a result of running
• Improving speed and efficiency when you run
• Injury prevention

Biomechanical analysis is available at Tweed Coast Chiropractic and is aimed at identifying:

• How you actually run or walk eg technique, foot placement, stride length etc
• Where you have lack of movement eg joint stiffness, muscle tightness
• Where you lack control eg joint hypermobility, muscle weakness
• Assessing and monitoring training loads and outcomes

If you’re Interested, book an appointment with Ian Curnow. Ian has post grad qualifications in rehabilitation, has an extensive knowledge of running mechanics and is a keen triathlete. 02 66744032

References:

1. Roy Morgan research; Runaway Success: Australia’s jogging boom (2016. http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6882-runawaay-success-australias-jogging-boom-201607061327
2. Callahan LR et al . Overview of running injuries of the lower extremity, Up to Date Mar 12 2019
3. Barton CJ, Bonanno DR, Carr J et al. Running retraining to treat lower limb injuries: a mixed-methods study of current evidence synthesised with expert opinion. BJSM (2016), ):1-16.
4. Fields KB, Sykes JC, Walker KM, Jackson JC. Prevention of running injuries. Curr Sports Med Rep 2010; 9:176.
   USA State of the Sport Report. www.runningusa.org (Accessed on May 01, 2011).
   
   5. McKean KA, Manson NA, Stanish WD. Musculoskeletal injury in the masters runners. Clin J Sport Med 2006; 16:149.
5. Saraagiotta BT, Yamato TP, Hespanhol LC Jr, Davis I et al. What are the main risk factors for Running-Related injuries (Sstematic Review)? Sports Med (2014) 44: 1153-116
6. Almomonroeder T, Wilson JD, Kernozek TW, The effect of foot strike pattern on Achilles Tendon Load During Running. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 41; 8, 2013 1758-1766
7. Chumanov ES, Wille CM, Michalski MP, Heiderscheit BC. Changes in Muscle Activation Patterns when Running Step Rate is Increased. Gait and Posture 36 (2012) 231-235. Knee Pain
8. van Gent RN, Siem D, van Middelkoop M, van Os A G, Bierma-Zeinstra S M A, et al. Incidence and determinants of lower extremity running injuries in long distance runners: a systematic review. Br j Sports Med 2007 41(8):469-80
9. Neal BS, Barton CJ, Gaille R, O’Hallaran et al: Runners with patellofemoral pain have altered biomechanics which targetd interventions can modify: A systemic review and meta analysis. Gait Posture: 2016(45) 69-82