You love to run, but every time you increase your training volume, an injury stops you. Whether it's tendinitis, shin splints, or knee pain, there's always something. You might start to wonder if your body just isn't built for running. This frustration is completely understandable.

• The main cause is increasing your training volume or intensity too quickly
• Transitions (like switching from road to trail running, or from summer to winter training) are high-risk periods
• Packing your workouts into just a few days increases the risk of injury
• Your body can adapt to almost anything, as long as you give it enough time

This article helps you identify your injury patterns. For managing an active injury, consult our guide What to do for a running injury.

I keep getting injured when I run, what should I do?

Recurring injuries often result from increasing your activity too quickly or from poorly managed transitions. Learn how to measure your mechanical stress, make changes gradually, and consult a physiotherapist for a plan tailored to your specific needs.

You need to start by asking yourself the following questions:

• Do I often and rapidly change a parameter of my training (longer run duration, higher intensity, frequency of outings, etc.)?
• During seasonal or environmental transitions, do I make sure to manage these changes properly (e.g., switching from treadmill to road, road to trail, asphalt to snow, and vice-versa)?
• Do I tend to pack my workouts into just a few days (for example, doing nothing during the week and then running 40 km on the weekend)?

If you recognize yourself in the previous statements, you may have difficulty properly managing your mechanical stress when running.

In other words, you often put yourself in situations where you're likely to do too much, too soon. This prevents your body from properly adapting to changes.

Therefore, you first need to become skilled at measuring mechanical stress. To learn more, visit the following link: https://lacliniqueducoureur.com/quantification-du-stress-mecanique/

Next, make sure you have the right shoes (see the article on footwear – Link to blog #13) and adopt a running technique that reduces the speed of impact forces on the ground (see the article on running technique – Link to blog #12).

Finally, you should consult a physiotherapist with expertise in treating running injuries to develop a personalized action plan for you.

Where can I find more information on injury prevention?

The podcast "Parle-moi de santé" by Alexis Gougeon, a physiotherapist at Physioactif, discusses the prevention and treatment of running injuries in episode #1, available on YouTube and podcast platforms.

Episode #1: Prevention and treatment of running injuries.

Find the episode on YouTube:

Click below to listen to episodes on podcast platforms:

Source:

• Van Gent RN. (2007). Incidence and determinants of lower extremity running injuries in long distance runners: a systematic review. British journal of sports medicine.