Running has become one of the most popular ways to improve and maintain fitness, and to stay in shape. Although running is a great way to stay active, many runners have to deal with an injury at some point.
More than of running injuries are caused by repetitive stress, but sudden injuries like a sprained ankle or a torn muscle can happen, too.
About running injuries
If you’re like many runners, you may be logging hundreds or even thousands of kilometers per year. The repetitive impact of all those foot strikes can take a toll on your muscles, joints, and connective tissue.
According to studies, the knees, legs, and feet are the most common injury areas for runners. The review breaks down the location-specific incidence of running injuries as follows:
- Knees: 7.2 to 50 percent
- Lower leg: 9.0 to 32.2 percent
- Upper leg: 3.4 to 38.1 percent
- Foot: 5.7 to 39.3 percent
- Ankles: 3.9 to 16.6 percent
- Hips, pelvis, or groin: 3.3 to 11.5 percent
- Lower back: 5.3 to 19.1 percent
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common injuries that affect runners.
1. Runner’s knee (patellofemoral syndrome)
Runner’s knee, or patellofemoral syndrome, is a general term that refers to pain in the front of your knee or around your kneecap. It’s a common overuse injury in sports that involve running or jumping.
Weakness in your hips or the muscles around your knee can put you at a higher risk of developing runner’s knee.
Runner’s knee can cause pain that is dull and can be felt in one or both knees ranges from mild to very painful gets worse with prolonged sitting or exercise gets worse when jumping, climbing stairs, or squatting. This type of injury may also cause cracking or popping sounds after prolonged periods of being stationary.
A doctor can often diagnosis runner’s knee with a physical exam but may recommend an X-ray to rule out other conditions. A physical therapist can give you a specific treatment plan to treat a runner’s knee injury.
2. Achilles tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis refers to inflammation of the tendon that connects your calf muscle to your heel. It may happen after increasing your mileage or the intensity of your running.
If left untreated, Achilles tendinitis increases your risk of rupturing your Achilles tendon. If this tendon is torn, it usually requires surgery to repair it.
Common symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include: dull pain in your lower leg above your heel, swelling along your Achilles tendon, limited range of motion when flexing your foot toward your shin and a warm feeling over the tendon
3. IT band syndrome
Your iliotibial band, commonly referred to as your IT band, is a long piece of connective tissue that runs from your outer hip to your knee. This band of tissue helps stabilize your knee when you’re walking or running.
IT band syndrome is caused by repetitive friction of the IT band rubbing against your leg bone. It’s very common in runners due to tight IT bands. Weak gluteal muscles, abdominals, or hips may also contribute to this condition.
IT band syndrome causes sharp pain on the outer side of your leg, usually just above your knee. Your IT band may also be tender to the touch. The pain often gets worse when you bend your knee.
4. Shin splints
Shin splints (tibial stress syndrome) refers to pain that occurs in the front or the inner parts of your lower legs, along your shinbone. Shin splints can happen when you increase your running volume too quickly, especially when running on hard surfaces.
In most cases, shin splints aren’t serious and go away with rest. However, if left untreated, they can develop into stress fractures.
Symptoms of shin splints can include: a dull pain along the front or inner part of your shinbone, pain that gets worse when you exercise, tenderness to the touch and mild swelling.
Shin splints often get better with rest or by cutting back on how frequently or how far you run.
5. Hamstring injuries
Your hamstrings help decelerate your lower leg during the swing phase of your running cycle. If your hamstrings are tight, weak, or tired, they may be more prone to injury.
Unlike sprinters, it’s fairly uncommon for distance runners to experience a sudden hamstring tear. Most of the time, distance runners experience hamstring strains that come on slowly and are caused by repetitive small tears in the fibers and connective tissue of the hamstring muscle.
6. Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot injuries. It involves irritation or degeneration of the thick layer of tissue, called fascia, on the bottom of your foot.
This layer of tissue acts as a spring when you’re walking or running. Increasing your running volume too quickly can put your fascia under increased stress. Muscle tightness or weaknesses in your calves can also put you at risk of plantar fasciitis.
Symptoms typically include: pain under your heel or midfoot, pain that develops gradually, a burning sensation on the bottom of your foot, pain that’s worse in the morning, pain after prolonged activity
7. Stress fractures
A stress fracture is a hairline crack that forms in your bone due to repetitive stress or impact. For runners, stress fractures commonly occur at the top of the foot, or in the heel or lower leg.
If you suspect you have a stress fracture, it’s a good idea to see see a doctor right away. An X-ray is needed for them to diagnose a stress fracture.
Symptoms of a stress fracture typically include: pain that gets worse over time, which may be barely noticeable at first but as the pain progresses, may be felt even when you’re at rest and/or swelling, bruising, or tenderness in the area of the fracture
It generally takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal from a stress fracture, and you may need to use crutches or wear a cast for a period of time.
8. Ankle sprain
Ankle sprains are caused by overstretching the ligaments between your leg and ankle. Sprains often happen when you land on the outer part of your foot and roll your ankle over.
Common symptoms associated with an ankle sprain include: discoloration, pain, swelling, bruising, limited range of motion
Most of the time, ankle sprains improve with rest, self-care, or physical therapy. They may take weeks or months to heal.
Treatment options for running injuries
If you experience any kind of pain or discomfort or find it hard to run, it’s a good idea to follow up with your doctor to get a proper diagnosis and to rule out other conditions.
For many common running injuries, treatment often includes: physical therapy sessions and specific exercises, following the RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, elevation), taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin or ibuprofen, cutting back on how often and how far you run.
Other more specific treatment may include:
For runner’s knee: strengthening your quadriceps and hip muscles, and stretching tight quads or calves, wearing orthotic shoes
For Achilles tendonitis: stretching or massaging your calves
For IT band syndrome: daily stretching of your IT bands and strengthening your hip muscles
For hamstring injuries: strengthening your glutes, stretching and strengthening your hamstrings, changing your running technique
For plantar fasciitis: stretching and strengthening your calves
For stress fractures: crutches, cast, or surgery
For an ankle sprain: ankle strengthening exercises
Injury prevention tips
Running injuries can happen to anyone, but you can minimize your risk of injury with the following tips:
Warm up. Warm up before you start running by doing an easy jog or dynamic mobility stretches such as arm or leg swings for 5 to 10 minutes.
Increase your running volume slowly. Many runners follow the 10 percent rule, meaning that they don’t increase their weekly volume of running by more than 10 percent at a time.
Take care of nagging injuries. Rest nagging injuries right away so they don’t develop into more serious issues. A physical therapist can give you a proper diagnosis and provide you with a customized treatment plan.
Work on your technique. Poor running technique can increase the amount of stress on your muscles and joints. Working with a running coach or even filming your running technique can help you improve.
Strengthen your hips. Include stability exercises in your training program such as glute bridges or single-leg squats to help you protect your knees and ankles.
Use soft surfaces. Running on grass, rubber tracks, sand, or gravel is easier on your joints than running on pavement. If you’re dealing with a nagging injury, try running on a soft surface until your pain subsides.
Consider cross-training. Adding some low impact workouts into your schedule such as cycling or swimming can help improve your aerobic fitness while giving your joints a break from the repetitive impact of running.
Source: Healthline