Running might seem like a easy activity to take up to improve fitness. However, it’s not quite as straightforward as it may appear with some scientific studies showing that up to three-quarters of runners get an overuse injury each year. Depending upon how bad that injury is and how it is managed, many runners just give up and never continue to run. The factors behind running injury are multiple but are associated with issues for example carrying out too much running too soon before allowing your body to adapt to the increased levels of running. Inadequate running footwear with design features which do not match up with those of the runners needs can be a factor. Troubles with foot biomechanics and the running technique can also be issues at raising the possibility for an injury.
An example of an injury is anterior compartment syndrome. There is fibrous fascia surrounding muscles which hold the muscles in place. If that fascia is tight, once we exercise the muscle would want to expand however that restricted fascia inhibits it. That pressure inside the fascia compartment is usually painful. In anterior compartment syndrome, this affects the muscles in the front of the lower leg. The most common reason for this condition is what is called overstriding. In this the runner is hitting the ground with their front leg too far in front of the body. To lower the foot to the ground, the anterior leg muscles need to work harder. As they work harder, the muscles expand and if the fascia doesn’t allow it, then this will end up painful. It is going to only hurt when running and will not be painful when not running. The best way to treat this problem to use approaches for the runner to shorten their stride length in order that the front foot doesn’t make contact with the ground too far ahead of the body when running.