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Quite often, people get disillusioned about continuing with their chosen activity once they get injured. The common strategy for many people is to simply stop running. This leads to a disruption of a training program and eventual loss of motivation. However, there is a solution! If you understand why these injuries occur and how to address them, you are better equipped at continuing the sport you enjoy with the least disruption.

What are common overuse injuries?

Running injuries related to overuse may be classified into bone, joint, muscle, ligament, tendon, bursa or nerve. Common injuries include:

Site	Injury
Bone	-       Bone stress -       Stress fracture
Joint	-       Osteo-arthritis -       Synovitis
Muscle	-       Delayed onset muscle soreness -       Compartment syndrome
Ligament	-       Chronic inflammation
Tendon	-       Tendonitis
Bursa	-       Bursitis
Nerve	-       Entrapment -       Compression -       Excessive tension

These injuries commonly affect areas such as the lower back; hip, knee, and ankle joints, as well as the feet.

Why do they occur?

The reality is, injuries and sport go hand in hand. Although some people are more prone to injuries, they can be narrowed down to either intrinsic or extrinsic factors.
Examples of intrinsic factors include: muscle weakness, muscle imbalance, lack of flexibility, pre-existing joint problems such as arthritis, malalignment of your hips, knees or feet, and other factors such as genetic makeup and body composition.
Extrinsic factors can be related to training error, environmental factors such as extreme whether conditions and running surfaces, inappropriate shoe wear, and inadequate nutrition and hydration.

How can I overcome my injury?

When confronted with an injury, you are best to speak with a professional who has experience in the area of sport. A Sports Physician or a Physiotherapist is a great start.
You can expect them to perform a thorough investigation into your injury. This will consist of a discussion about the timing of your symptoms, their location, as well as their general behaviour. This part of the assessment is critical when deciding upon a diagnosis and its causative factor.
In addition to the discussion, a detailed physical examination of the body part will be performed, as well as any other areas that influence or may be influenced by the structure at fault. You may also be asked to perform specific movements that aggravate your pain. The physical examination adds further weight to the diagnosis, as well highlight the areas to be treated.

What can I expect?

One reason people avoid seeking professional help is the expectation they will be told to stop running. This may not necessarily be the case. It is the job of a professional to keep you running whenever possible. This is on the provision that further damage will not be done.
Once a diagnosis is reached, your health professional may explain to you the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that predisposed your injury, and ways in which to go about addressing them. Where appropriate, treatment will be administered to reduce your symptoms. They may also give you some home exercises that will help you overcome your problem. Most importantly, advice about modifying your training program may be given to allow you to continue training with the least disruption.
 
Frank Care
City Baths Spinal & Sports Medicine Centre, Melbourne
03 9639 2286
www.citybathssportsmedicine.com