Myths and realities of running – Why do I always get injured when I run?

Myths and realities of running – Why do I always get injured when I run?

Running is a sport that is rapidly growing in popularity. The simplicity of this sport and its health benefits fuel the motivation to put on your shoes and go for a run.

As with many things, unfortunately, there are a huge number of myths about running that are spread by word of mouth and personal anecdotes. In this series of blog posts, we set the record straight by debunking some key aspects of running.

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

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.)?
• When transitioning between seasons or environments, do I make sure to properly manage this transition (going from treadmill to road, from road to mountain, from asphalt to snow and vice versa, etc.)?
• Do I tend to condense my workouts into a few days (doing nothing during the week and running 40 km on the weekend, for example)?

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 that are likely to do too much, too fast. This does not allow the body to adapt well to changes.
You must first become a master of quantifying mechanical stress. To learn more, visit the following link: https://lacliniqueducoureur.com/quantification-du-stress-mecanique/

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Next, make sure you have the right shoes (see the article on shoes – 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).

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Finally, you should consult a physiotherapist who has expertise in treating running injuries to develop a customized action plan for you.

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To learn more...

To learn more about running, check out the podcast "Parle-moi de santé" (Let's Talk Health) created by one of our physiotherapists, Alexis Gougeon. Episode #1 discusses running.

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Episode #1: Prevention and treatment of running injuries.

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Find the episode on YouTube:

Click below to listen to episodes on podcast platforms:

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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.