Running Injuries
Running as a sport requires a great deal of passion and lots of hard work which is the same with other sports too. As a result of which injuries are common occurrences. Injuries occurring to runners can be grouped into five categories namely:
Hip & Thigh Injuries
- Hip Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursa over the outside of the hip joint, so-called trochanteric bursitis, can cause pain with hip movement. Treatment of hip bursitis is often effective, but the condition has a problem of coming back and sometimes becoming a persistent problem.
- Snapping Hip Syndrome
Snapping hip syndrome is a word used to describe three distinct hip problems. The first is when the IT band snaps over the outside of the thigh. The second occurs when the deep hip flexor snaps over the front of the hip joint. Finally, tears of the cartilage, or labrum, around the hip socket can cause a snapping sensation. .
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
The iliotibial band is a thick, fibrous band that spans from the hip to the shin; it lends stability to the knee joint, and is attached to muscles of the thigh. ITBS is caused when the band becomes inflamed and tender. .
- Pulled Hamstring
A pulled hamstring is a common sports injury, seen most commonly in sprinters. .
Knee Injuries
- Patellofemoral Syndrome
Also called "Runner's Knee," problems associated with the patella, or kneecap, are common in runners. The term runner's knee may refer to several common injuries such as chondromalacia, patellar tendonitis, or generalized knee pain.
- Dislocating Kneecap
A dislocating kneecap causes acute symptoms during the dislocation, but can also lead to chronic knee pain.
- Plica Syndrome
Plica syndrome occurs when there is irritation of the lining of the knee joint. Part of the lining of the knee joint is more prominent in some individuals, and can form a so-called plica shelf.
Leg Injuries
- Shin Splints
Shin splints, like runner's knee, is a term that describes a set of symptoms, not an actual diagnosis. Shin splint pain can be due to problems with the muscles, bone, or the attachment of the muscle to the bone.
- Stress Fractures
Stress fractures of the hip are usually seen in long distance runners, and much more commonly in women than in men.
Ankle Injury
Ankle Sprain
- Ankle sprains are common injuries that runners experience.
Foot Injury
- Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a syndrome of heel pain due to inflammation of the thick ligament of the base of the foot. A tight, inflamed plantar fascia can cause pain when walking or running, and lead to the formation of a heel spur.