As thrilling and exhilarating as running can be, it would be naïve to ignore the harmful effects associated with it if precaution is not exercised.
Here are some of the four most common running injuries that you can encounter:
- Achilles tendinitis – a drastic increase in activity, aggressive calf stretches, and tight-fitted shoes can cause the Achilles tendon, a band of fibrous tissue that connects the calf muscles to the back of the heel, to flare up, causing severe pain and discomfort. This injury develops over time from repetitive movement.
- Shin splints – are a common occurrence in runners and soccer players, primarily due to poor biomechanics and overtraining. Too much strain can cause severe pain, discomfort, tightness, and inflammation around the shin bone (tibia).
- Plantar fasciitis – This is a common injury for runners, usually caused by overusing the muscles in your feet. These abrupt, recurring movements can cause small tears, swelling, and tightening of the plantar fascia.
- Stress fractures – repetitive motions, weak bone density, quick or abrupt movement during sports activities (like cross-overs in basketball) can cause hairlines cracks or tears in the bone.
Injuries can be physically and emotionally hard to deal with especially if you’re a pro-athlete and run for a living. The key to injury prevention requires recognizing an injury and taking prompt action when pain comes along. If you develop recurring pain from running and are not sure what’s wrong, see a podiatrist for a professional opinion.
If you are suffering from severe foot pain, chronic overuse injury, or any other foot and ankle condition, call Joseph Stuto, DPM located in Brooklyn Heights (718) 624-7537 and Brooklyn (718) 567-1403, New York. We treat everyone from infants, children, adolescents, adults and seniors. Dr. Joseph Stuto and his highly-trained staff can treat your running injuries and a multitude of other foot and ankle problems with advanced technologies and expertise. Contact us at either of the two numbers listed above or schedule an appointment. Check out our patient education library covering a wide range of podiatric-related topics and gain a better understanding of your feet.