Over the past quarter century, running has become one of the most popular forms of exercise. People of almost any age can do it, it can be done virtually anywhere at minimal cost, and you don't have to be an athletic superstar to participate. Nevertheless, there are some basic guidelines you should know to help keep your running program productive, safe, and injury free.
Although you don't need much equipment to enjoy running, it's almost impossible to enjoy running without proper running shoes. This doesn't mean you have to buy the newest, or the fanciest, or the most expensive shoes. But it does mean buying shoes that fit properly and comfortably, are well cushioned, and give your feet and ankles proper support.
Ask questions of the sales personnel to assure a good fit. Expect to spend between $50 and $200 for proper running shoes. And expect to replace your shoes relatively frequently every six months or 350-500 miles. By that point, the shock absorbing ability of the shoe will become inadequate. But remember, miles logged on planes, trains, and in cars have little effect on your shoes!
Though often overlooked, safety concerns should be a part of your running routine. All runners should follow these basic safety rules:
Running injuries tend to be nagging rather than severe, but still require attention. The best approach is to avoid them. Common runner injuries can be avoided by taking some relatively simple steps. First, don't over-train. When starting your running regimen (or restarting after an injury or illness), start slowly. Never step up your running by more than 5%-10% per week. Vary your regimen by following a long, hard run one day with a short, easier run the next.
Dr. Gary Gibbons, vascular surgeon, director of the foot center at Boston Medical Center, and an experienced runner advises, "Vary the terrain you run on dirt, grass, asphalt, even opposite sides of the street. This will reduce the stress on your entire body." Take at least one or two days off each week to rest and allow your body to strengthen. You should also vary your regimen over a number of weeks, decreasing the difficulty of your training every third week. Finally, cross train. Bike or swim instead of running at least twice a week or, add biking or swimming for 10-15 minutes before running.
Along with a proper training routine, stretching is probably the most important way to prevent running injuries. Although the entire body should be stretched, it's most important to concentrate on the legs and abdominal muscles. Although sports medicine specialists will suggest a variety of stretches, at minimum you need to include an Achilles tendon and calf stretch, a lower back and hamstring stretch, a quadricep stretch, another hamstring stretch, and an abdominal stretch. And, Dr. Gibbons stresses, "It's just as important to stretch after your run as before it, especially as you get older."
No matter how careful you are, you're likely to eventually suffer some running-related injury. Generally, running injuries can be divided into four levels: (also known as the functional classification of pain)
In most instances, running-related injuries begin as a level one or two injury and progress to level three or four if not treated. The key is to treat the injury quickly and properly.
Immediately ice any area that is painful or tight from running. (Ice for 10-20 minutes, let area warm, then repeat.) Ice as many times as possible each day until the symptoms abate. It is important to rest your injury sufficiently. Failing to properly rest a low-level injury can exacerbate the injury. In general:
Use anti-inflammatory medications strictly according to package instructions or physician guidance, to control inflammation, not pain. Masking pain so that you can continue to exercise after an injury will lead to a more severe injury. If a level three injury doesn't get better after a week of proper treatment, consult with a sports medicine specialist. Level four injuries warrant immediate medical attention.
Come back very slowly from an injury. Recognize that it will generally take at least as long as the time you took off due to the injury to work back to the training level you were at prior to the injury.
Unless you have access to an indoor track or live in a very temperate climate, you will have to deal with extremes of heat and/or cold. However, if you take the proper precautions, neither temperature extreme should curtail your running regimen.
Heat
Running in extreme heat poses the danger of heat exhaustion (severe dehydration) or the sometimes fatal danger of heat stroke (a failure of the body to regulate heat level). To avoid heat-related injury from running, take the following precautions:
Cold
Running in cold, wintry weather can lead to injury from slips and falls, strains or pulls due to cold muscles, and frostbite. To avoid these injuries, take the following precautions:
Finally, as with any training regimen, before you begin, it is best to get a check up with your physician. Let your health care provider know of your plans and seek their advice.
RESOURCES:
ACSM
www.acsm.org
Georgia State University
http://www.gsu.edu/webprj01/coe/wwwfit/public_html/running.html
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology
www.csep.ca
Healthy Canadians
http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca
References
ACSM Recommendations for Endurance Athletes. Am Fam Physician . February 1, 2006; 73(3); 547.
Early detection and treatment of running injuries. Team Oregon website. Available at: http://www.teamoregon.com .
Georgia State University website. Available at: http://www.gsu.edu/webprj01/coe/wwwfit/public_html/running.html .
How to avoid injuries. Dr. Pribut's Running Injuries website. Available at: http://www.drpribut.com/sports/sportframe.html .
Johnson JA. The Running Shoe. In: O’Connor FG, Wilder RP, ed. Textbook of Running Medicine . New York: McGraw Hill; 2001:589-594.
Wilder RP, O’Connor FG. Evaluation of the Injured Runner. In: O’Connor FG, Wilder RP, ed. Textbook of Running Medicine . New York: McGraw Hill; 2001:51.
Last reviewed February 2008 by John C. Keel, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.