Only a runner knows what toll a run can have on your body. Injuries on knees and joints can hamper your training or worse – it can take you out of a competition which you are been training for months.
To avoid this kind of situation it’s better to be prepared to prevent those injuries. Here are 6 expert tips for runners to avoid injuries.
1. Choosing your running shoes
Before you hit the ground or track for running, choosing the right shoes is important. It is best to get one from the specialty store. Your foot should fit along the heel and there should be enough space around your toes. To get the best fit shoes for running, try wearing your usual running socks while trying your shoes at the stores.
2. Proper Maintenance
Your journey of finding the correct running shoes does not end in the stores. The main task comes after it; it is maintaining your shoes. You need to maintain them properly. It is recommended that you change your shoes every 400 to 600 miles or every 6 months.
3. Improve your flexibility
Being flexible makes you less prone to injuries. Try to keep your body flexible. For improving your flexibility, add exercises and stretches to your routine. The increase in flexibility prepares your body for long runs and makes it less prone to injuries. Yoga is a simple and effective way to improve your flexibility.
4. Strengthen your muscles
Strong muscles reduce the chances of getting injured. Strength training can help your increase muscle tone, strength, and endurance and bone density. You can works with weight either in a gym or at home. Schedule your strength training according to your comfort. You can lift one day and run the next day.
5. Listen to your body
No one knows your body well other than you. If you’re feeling that you can’t run today skip running today and run tomorrow. Don’t overrule what your body says and understand rest is also as critical as practicing running daily.
6. Get the opinion of an expert
It is always ideal to consult a doctor or a physiotherapist before you start your running. Getting a technical opinion not only avoids you from getting injured but also will be a great factor in making you a better runner.
If you have further more doubts our physiotherapists at Caring Hands Physiotherapy and Massage can assist you.