While running can be good for the heart and the body’s overall fitness, the repetitive stress of running on the feet and legs can increase your risk of injury over time. These potential hurts range from the mildly annoying to those requiring surgery. To take proper care of your body, make sure that you stretch properly, wear appropriate footwear, and listen to your body when it tells you to rest.
A few common running injuries include:
- Pulled Hamstring: A pulled hamstring is an injury to the hamstring muscle. It causes mild to severe pain in the area.
- Hip Stress Fractures: Stress fractures of the hip are most common in long distance runners, where there is a constant repetitive motion in the hip.
- Shin Splints: Shin splint pain can be due to is generally associated with any pain in the bone between the knee and ankle.
- Achilles Tendinitis: Achilles tendinitis is a painful condition of the tendon in the back of the ankle. Left untreated, Achilles tendinitis can lead to an increased risk of Achilles tendon rupture.
- Plantar Fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis is a pain in the heel caused by inflammation of the thick ligament of the base of the foot. Plantar fasciitis can cause pain when walking or running, and lead to the formation of a heel spur.
- Arch Pain: Arch pain, also sometimes called a strain, often causes inflammation and a burning sensation under the arch of the foot.
Again, to ensure that you are immune to many of these injuries, properly prepare your body ahead of time for the impending exertion. And whether you’re a long time runner or just starting out, always see a podiatrist before beginning a new running regimen. We can help teach you preventive measures to keep your feet and legs healthy at any activity level.
