Running

Running is by definition the fastest means for an animal to move on foot. It is defined in sporting terms as a gait in which at some point all feet are off the ground at the same time. It is a form of aerobic exercise.

Running injuries

There are many injuries associated with running (due to it being a high impact activity). Common injuries are "runner's knee" (pain in the knee), shin splints, pulled muscles (especially the hamstring), "jogger's nipple" (soreness of the nipple due to friction), twisted ankles, and Iliotibial Band Syndrome. The most common running related injuries are due to over-use. Repetitive stress on the same tissues without enough time for recovery or due to improper form or muscle imbalances, leads to many of the above. Generally these can be minimized by warming up beforehand, wearing proper running shoes, improving running form, performing strengthening exercises, and getting enough rest. There is a very strong consensus among the running and scientific community that all of those can be very effective in minimizing or recovering from running injuries. Another injury prevention method that is very commonly recommended in the running community, but is actually controversial is stretching. While stretching is often recommended as a near requirement to avoid running injuries, the relevant medical literature does not represent as much of a consensus that it is effective. Some studies find that it is and some find that it really isn't helpful at all. A 2002 systematic review of 27 peer reviewed studies found that there was not sufficient evidence to support the claim that stretching was effective in injury prevention or soreness reduction.http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/325/7362/468 Most members of the running community find that the inconsistent study methods and the failure to establish proper controls and find proper stretching methods is the reason behind the conflicting studies, and stretching is in fact helpful, or at least not harmful.

Related Topics:
Injuries - Impact - Runner's knee - Knee - Shin splints - Hamstring - Nipple - Ankle - Iliotibial Band Syndrome - Warming up - Running shoes

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