Running Conditions and Ailments

Once you get into a fitness routine, it almost becomes second nature to head to the gym, hop on your spin bike, or go for your run. If anything, the challenge becomes dealing with the frustration when you can’t exercise. If you have an injury or illness, you might have to modify your exercise routine … Read more

Although we don’t have to put much thought into walking, it’s a fairly complicated process involving the coordinated interplay of quite a number of bones, joints, and muscles. While we hear about proper joint alignment, we don’t often hear about proper foot positioning. In fact, most people take for granted the alignment of their feet … Read more

Many people have never even heard of the term “diastasis recti’,” or if they are in the minority that has, they only associate diastasis recti with pregnancy or a complication women experience during the postpartum period.  However, not only is diastasis recti much more common than people think, but it also does not need to … Read more

There are some odd sensations that can be experienced when you run. You can feel lightheaded or dizzy; itchy, and during hard workouts, you can feel an uncomfortable, burning sensation in your legs. It’s also possible to have strange taste sensations when you run. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I taste blood when I … Read more

If you’re an avid runner, there are probably few things your doctor can tell you that would scare you more than hearing you need a hip replacement. Most runners who undergo a hip replacement have significant osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease in the hip, which can make running extremely painful, if even possible. But, can … Read more

Runners’ feet can be pretty gnarly. Between black or bruised toenails, blisters, calluses, and athlete’s foot, almost every runner would be a good candidate for a pedicure any day of the week. A blister under your toenail is one of the many common foot maladies you may contend with as a runner. Most of the time, … Read more

Osteoarthritis in one or multiple joints is extremely common in older adults.  While we often hear about osteoarthritis in the knees and hips, it’s possible to have osteoarthritis in any joint. Based on the movements involved in running, runners are usually most impacted by osteoarthritis in the knees, hips, ankles, spine, feet, and shoulders. But, … Read more

A hernia can be a painful, or at least unsettling, injury. They are characterized by a bulging or outpouching of the intestines or other tissues through the abdominal wall. Unfortunately, hernias are quite common, especially among men, and runners aren’t immune. But, can you get a hernia from running? Moreover, can you run with a … Read more

As runners, we usually like to pay attention to how we feel when we run and we may even track our performance by using a GPS running watch or record how far we ran and how long it took. As long as you are following a good training plan, you should be improving, feeling stronger … Read more

There are certain maladies that runners are prone to and thus become familiar with over their years of running. Examples include injuries like shin splints and plantar fasciitis, or conditions like delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and the dreaded runner’s trots. “Runner’s face” might not be a term you’re necessarily familiar with, but if you’ve been … Read more

After a full day of work, family responsibilities, and a hard run, there’s nothing more alluring than slipping under the covers and finally resting your head on your pillow to sleep. While you sleep, your muscles continue to recover from your workout, repairing the microtears and replenishing muscle glycogen stores. If all goes well, you’ll … Read more

Nearly every runner has found themselves defending the well-meaning words of caution from a loved one: “Running is bad for your knees!”  The concern that running will damage your knees has persisted for years, despite the fact that research has shown that marathoners and long-distance runners may have healthier knees than sedentary age-matched peers. However, … Read more

After a long winter of bundling up and trudging through sloppy miles on slushy and snowy roads during cold, dark mornings, there’s nothing more invigorating and enticing to a runner than the prospect of enjoying warm spring runs.  The springtime lighting is beautiful, whether you’re an early morning runner or hit the roads or trails … Read more

Some say it’s a badge of honor for any runner. Others shudder in disgust. Whichever camp you fall in, if you’ve ever had a toenail falling off running, you’ve experienced the unfortunate situation referred to as runner’s toenail. A survey of 719 trail runners found that toenail injuries were actually the most commonly reported injuries … Read more