Calcaneal Fat Pad Injury

There are many causes of heel pain. One of the less familiar sources of injury to the heel is to the calcaneal fat pad. This injury can be mistaken for plantar fasciitis, but is a completely different entity.

Taking a Closer Look at Runner’s Knee

Swimmers have their ears. Tennis players have their elbows. Us runners have our knees.
When you consider the act of running and the impact our bodies absorb each time a foot hits the ground, it’s no wonder our knees are susceptible to injury. There is a variety of things that can go wrong at this joint, […]

Ouch, Hamstring Strains

Wednesday is track day for me. Intervals, anaerobic intensity and intense pain are the order of the day. This particular day however, I was running late

The Most Pointless Marathon Story Ever Written

Yes, it’s a provocative charge, but what else can you say about a Reuters story by Alastair Himmer headlined, “Tokyo marathon runner solves mystery of sore nipples“?

Your Bi-Weekly Running News Roundup!

The Latest on Injuries
I once injured the IT band in my left leg, then injured the IT band in my right leg. My physical therapist suggested that I had altered my stride to compensate for the injury in one leg, which led to the injury in the other leg. The Los Angeles Times […]

The Worst Part of Running

I know, I know. We’re not supposed to hate anything about running, right? Certainly if you put it on a ledger the assets would far outnumber the debits. But if you peered into the deepest recesses of your most secret thoughts you would find something about our chosen sport that you despise.
No? OK, it’s just […]

Achilles Tendonitis

1. What is it?
The Achilles tendon is the common attachment point for the calf muscles to the heel. It is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body (it is also the most frequently ruptured tendon too). Achilles tendonitis is usually due to overuse from repetitive micro-trauma causing inflammation. Achilles tendonitis accounts […]

Running Through Adversity

We runners are a hardy bunch. We push ourselves to exhaustion. We sometimes break bones and scrape skin seeking out stressful situations to see just how far we can push ourselves. Sometimes we do all this while overcoming some immense obstacles.
If you’re San Luis Obispo, Calif., pulmonologist Tom Vendegna, 43, you run to reverse a […]

Thoughts on a Month of Slack

So, I’ve essentially taken a little bit more than a month “off,” thanks to a little bout of “plantar fascitis,” about which you can read much more on the site.
And I’m having kind of a hard time getting back on track. I don’t think it’s lack of desire, or lack of willpower—there’s nothing so much […]

Iliotibial Band Syndrome: What is It and Why You Should Care

1. What is it?
The iliotibial band (ITB) is a sheet of fibrous tissue that extends from the outside of the hip, down the outer thigh to the outside of the knee. The ITB helps to stabilize the knee joint. During normal movement, as the knee bends and straightens, the ITB rubs over part […]

Shin Bone’s Connected to the …

1. What are “shin splints”?
Shin splints are overuse injuries that occur in the lower leg. They may be due to a tearing of the muscle/tendon junction or inflammation where the muscle attaches to the bone (periostitis). Shin splints are now more commonly called medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) when they involve the inner aspect […]

The Pose Method Way to Prevent and Treat Plantar Fasciitis

CRNs very own Lee Miller recently wrote an excellent article on Plantar Fasciitis (PF) which I’d like to use as a starting point for today’s article. What prompted me to write on this subject is that lately I’ve noticed a few people (like our editor, Jeanne) suffering from PF.
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. In fact, […]

A Different Kind of Runner

About a month ago I was at a local running store helping register people for a local marathon training program when I overheard an interesting exchange between a newcomer and a coach trying to decide where to place her.
“What’s your pace?” he asked.
“I have no idea.” she responded. This was not unusual; few beginners knew […]

Patience with Patients

I see quite a few runners in my practice, and it appears that they are comforted by the fact that I too am a runner. However, these patients can be both the most rewarding and challenging patients to treat. The reward is to see them back running healthy again. The difficult part […]

Ouch, My Ankle!

Let’s talk about ankle sprains.
1. What is an ankle sprain?
A sprain injury occurs when ligaments, which are soft tissue structures that hold bones together, are damaged. The most common ankle sprain is an inversion type, where the foot rolls over excessively, damaging the ligaments on the outside of the ankle.
2. What are the causes/predisposing […]

The 3 R’s of Running: Recovery, Rest, Recharge

If you wind up on the injured list, a health care practitioner will usually tell you to follow the RICE acronym—rest, ice, compression and elevation. Take note that the very first letter— “R”—stands for “rest.”
When you have a cold, the doctor tells you to “get some rest.”
As you prepare for a big race, you probably […]

A Foot Fracture That Wasn’t

This is an interesting case of a triathlete who was ramping up his training for a half-ironman competition and developed a tenderness that was felt on the top of his foot.
He had seen his physician, who made a preliminary diagnosis of a stress fracture, and had sent the patient for a bone scan. The bone […]

Sports Injuries Revisited

Most runners at some point in their training will be affected by an injury. Injuries can range from mild to severe. Some require no time off of training, and some may require you to stop running completely.
Many athletic injuries are preventable and treatable. A basic understanding of the causes of injuries can help to avoid […]

Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain Syndrome)

1. What is it?
The plantar fascia is a band of fibrous tissue at the bottom of the foot extending from the heel to the ball of the foot. This structure plays a major role in supporting the arch and preventing the foot from collapsing under the weight of the body. When this structure is injured, […]

Ignore the New Rules of Stretching at Your Own Peril

Most experts agree on why you should stretch:
1. Stretching enhances muscle flexibility,
2. increase’s the body’s range of motion,
3. and can alleviate muscle stiffness.
But, as far as most athletes are concerned (that’s you!), the most important thing about stretching is that the three reasons listed above combine to help you a) perform better and b) avoid […]

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