Rules of the Road: Tips For Staying Fit And Keeping Joints Healthy Through Running
September 19, 2013
Running is one of the most common forms of exercise, among elite athletes and regular, fitness conscious people alike. Whether you jog three-to-five times a week to keep active – like myself – or you regularly train for ultra-marathons, there is always that underlying risk of injury. Runner’s knee, Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, hamstring issues – all common injuries we don’t like to say out loud, but unfortunately are often associated with running.
However, no need to hang up your running shoes yet. Following are key tips for safe and healthy running:
- Support means everything. This comes from both the shoes you wear and the terrain on which you run. Having the right support in your running shoes is key. Be sure to take note if you are arched or flat footed, then do some research on the best running shoe for you. A lot of specialty running stores, like Fleet Feet Sports here in Raleigh (where I go), can help determine the right shoe for you. You should also consider where you will do the majority of your running. If you run on hard ground such as concrete, you will probably need more cushion than you would should you choose to mostly run in grassy and soft-grounded trail-like areas. The “give” of the terrain plays a major role on how your joints react to the impact of your strides.
- Listen to your body. Even the most experienced runners can still experience sharp pains brought on by joint fluctuation and agitation. This is especially common in knees. Although hips have a smooth ‘ball and socket’ joint and ankles are designed to accommodate impact and rotation, knees tend to fall short in the functionality department. Cartilage and tissues can rapidly wear down from over-exertion and lack of support and stability. Make sure you rest between runs and stretch liberally during your warm-up and cool-down.
- Cross-train. From preventing and rehabilitating injuries, to improving overall fitness, cross-training is key. Supplement your running with strength training, swimming, biking, yoga – whatever tickles your fancy.
- Jump on the yoga bandwagon. Yoga helps strengthen your core and makes you more flexible – two elements that can keep you running injury-free.
Keep these tips in mind the next time you lace up and hit the streets or trails. Happy running!
Awesome write-up. I’m a normal visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a really long time.
whoah this weblog is great i love studying your posts. Keep up the good work! You recognize, many persons are searching round for this info, you could help them greatly. |
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this information. Today bloggers publish only about gossip and web stuff and this is really irritating. A good website with interesting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this website, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this information. Today bloggers publish only about gossip and web stuff and this is actually frustrating. A good web site with exciting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
What’s up to all, how is everything, I think every one is getting more from this website, and your views are fastidious for new visitors.|
I genuinely enjoy looking through on this site, it has good posts . “Violence commands both literature and life, and violence is always crude and distorted.” by Ellen Glasgow.
Hey there. I found your web site by the use of Google at the same time as searching for a related subject, your web site came up. It appears great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Awesome write-up. I’m a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I will be a frequent visitor for a long time.
Awesome post. I am a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a regular visitor for a long time.
Hey there. I discovered your website by the use of Google whilst searching for a similar matter, your web site came up. It appears great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Hello there! This article could not be written much better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept preaching about this. I’ll send this post to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a very good read. Many thanks for sharing!
Its like you read my thoughts! You seem to grasp so much about this, like you wrote the e-book in it or something. I feel that you could do with a few percent to force the message home a little bit, however other than that, that is fantastic blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.|
Your style is really unique compared to other people I have read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this site.
I have read so many content regarding the blogger lovers but this post is actually a fastidious paragraph, keep it up.|
I like the helpful information you supply for your articles. I will bookmark your blog and test again right here regularly. I’m fairly sure I will learn many new stuff proper right here! Best of luck for the following!|
naturally like your web-site however you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to tell the reality nevertheless I will surely come back again.|
If you would like to get much from this post then you have to apply these strategies to your won weblog.|
hi!,I like your writing so much! proportion we communicate more about your article on AOL? I need an expert in this space to solve my problem. Maybe that’s you! Taking a look ahead to look you. |
I must thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this website. I’m hoping to see the same high-grade content by you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my own website now ;)|
Thanks in favor of sharing such a nice idea, post is good, thats why i have read it completely|