Causes Of Common Running Injuries And Their Treatments

Most of us are aware of the benefits of running – it helps us to lose weight, allows us to sleep better and in general, encourages us to lead a healthier life. While running is a great exercise, fact is that it can also lead to occasional injuries.

Apart from people who have recently started running, experienced runners can also undergo injuries, while doing this form of exercise. In this article, we will discuss causes of five common running injuries. Furthermore, we will also discuss how you can treat these injuries and lead a normal life again.

Common Running Injury Causes And Their Treatments

Runner’s Knee

The most prominent symptom of runner’s knee is an intense pain below the kneecap. Usually, if you ignore the pain and continue running, the pain gets worse. Runner’s knee can be caused by various factors that include wrong footwear, rough running surfaces and even posture of your body while running.

Resting for some days is probably the best solution for fixing runner’s knee. Also, pay attention to the footwear you are wearing. If your shoes are old or worn out, buying a new pair is a good idea. Additionally, try to run on even surfaces.

Achilles Tendinitis

The most common symptom of Achilles tendinitis is a sharp pain near the heel. Some people can also experience swelling near the ankle area. In most cases, it occurs because of factors such as overtraining and improper footwear.

If you are suffering from Achilles tendinitis, it’s important to rest properly. You can also apply ice pack on the affected area. Also, for avoiding such a situation later, do not run too quickly or for too long.

Shin Splits

Shin splits refer to intense pain in the shin area. In most cases, shin splits occur to people who start running at high intensity suddenly in a desperate attempt to lose weight. Consider the fact that when you suddenly start running at a great speed, your lower legs suffer the most. As a result, shin splits develop.

The tendency to run on rough surfaces complicates the situation even more.The best strategy for treating shin splits is to give your body a break for 1-2 weeks (or as advised by your doctor). Also, after resuming your workout, avoid rough surfaces for the time being. Instead, try to run on grass or other soft surfaces.

IT Band Syndrome

IT band syndrome is a serious injury that causes intense pain in the knee, especially in the sides. In most cases, continuous downhill running causes IT band syndrome.

For treating IT band syndrome, massaging the affected area lightly is a good idea. You can also reduce inflammation by taking help of ice packs. Also, avoid running in the same direction regularly because it pressurizes the joints and other parts of the body.

Heel Pain

Heel pain is another common running injury that is caused by weak muscles that fail to cope with strenuous exercise routines. Avoiding warm up and cooling exercises is another major reason.

Treat heel pain by applying ice packs and resting for few days. Also, warm and cool down before and after every exercise respectively.

Handle running injuries with these simple tips.