Running injury? Maybe you’re doing it all wrong

This study raises some interesting questions, including: Are running injuries actually caused by the amount of force generated with each step? Or, is there something else (such as stride length or body posture while running) that explains this connection? Is the higher force of impact a cause of injuries or the result? In other words, maybe runners land harder when there is something amiss, perhaps a knee or hip problem, of which they are not yet aware. Would the same results be found if men were included in the study? What about people who run less than 20 miles/week? Or far more? How easy is it to land more softly while running? And, would this actually decrease injuries? Would landing farther forward on the foot (rather than on the heel) be better? Should you change how you run? With more research, we might soon have answers to these questions. But right now, we may not have enough information to make a strong recommendation that all runners try to change how hard they land. But, if future studies confirm the findings of this latest research, we’ll need to learn and teach better running technique. And perhaps we’ll need to rethink the wisdom of those highly cushioned heels in our running shoes that all but invite heel-first running. In the meantime, don’t use this new report as an excuse not to run or pursue other exercise. Find activities that you enjoy and that you can perform regularly without injury. Whatever your choice of exercise, remember this: it’s usual...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Exercise and Fitness Health Prevention running injury Source Type: news