The majority of runners of distance currently have, or have had, an injury in one form or another as a result of their running.
These injuries range from back, hip, knee, ankle and foot issues resulting from a number of issues, often not easily identifiable and sometimes seemingly incurable. This makes being injured an extremely challenging and stressful time in an athletes life.
World renowned Sport Scientist, medical doctor and distance runner, Dr. Tim Noakes, has spent many decades researching and working with various aspects of the sport of distance running, and his book, Lore of Running is a world renown publication, dealing with all aspects related to running.
His Ten Laws of Running injuries are especially insightful, as they bring together years of experience from both the laboratory and the field, to help us avoid and overcome injuries.
Law 1: Running Injuries are not an act of God
Law 2: Each running injury progresses through through 4 grades
Law 3: Each running injury indicates the athlete has reached breakdown point
Law 4: Virtually all true running injuries are curable
Law 5: X-Rays and other sophisticated investigations are seldom necessary to diagnose
injuries
Law 6: Treat the cause, not the effect
Law 7: Rest is seldom the most appropriate treatment
Law 8: Never accept as final, the advice of a non-runner
Law 9: Avoid the knife
Law 10: There is no evidence that running causes osteoarthritis in the knees of a runner who
had healthy knees when running was started
For the few weeks I will have a look at these "Laws" in a little more detail, in an attempt to help you remain injury free and running strong, throughout the running season.
