What Causes Running Injuries?
There are four periods of time when runners are most vulnerable to injury: • During the initial four to six months of running. • Upon returning to running after an injury. • When the quantity of running is increased (distance). • When the quality of running is increased (speed). Most running injuries are caused by recurring factors that runners can often prevent or avoid themselves: • Training errors are the most common source of injury, particularly lack of adequate stretching; rapid changes in mileage; an increase in hill training; interval training (going from slow speeds over long distances to faster over less ground); and insufficient rest between training sessions. • When selecting a running shoe, the athlete should look for a style that will fit comfortably and that will accommodate his or her particular foot anatomy. When a shoe’s mileage exceeds 500-600 miles, it should be discarded for running. Runners should keep also in mind potential anatomic abnormalities: • Hip disorders
