How to Prevent Common Running Injuries
When running for exercise, it’s all too common to experience a small issue when running that eventually turns into a bigger problem and sidelines you from running for weeks or even months. Whether this injury starts out as a twinge when stretching or a sharp pain in the knee when running, doing what you can to prevent these injuries from occurring in the first place should help to keep you on your feet.
Improve Your Flexibility
Flexibility is key to the health of a runner, as it ensures that your legs stay limber and your muscles more pliable, which means that they can stretch further without issue. Stretch daily to improve your flexibility, particularly right after you warm up your leg muscles. Don’t do these stretches quickly or you risk lessening their effects. You can add in some exercises like skipping and high knee drills to further improve your flexibility.
Include Strength Training
By taking your legs through strength training, you will be able to improve your overall strength and athleticism, which invariably lessens the possibility that you will suffer from an injury. Make use of strength training exercises at least a couple times each week. Even though your main focus should be on strengthening the legs, these exercises should include all muscle groups throughout the body. Hill running is a great strength training exercise for your legs.
Make Sure You Hydrate
As important as improving your flexibility and strength is keeping hydrated. Doing so will allow you to avoid heat exhaustion, which greatly increases the chances that you will become injured. You should drink at least six ounces of fluid for every 20 minutes of exercise. Even with all of these precautions, it’s still possible for you to become injured by slipping and falling when running. In this case, you may want to consider some physical therapy or chiropractic care. When you need a chiropractor in 89120 area code, there are a large number of reputable options for you to select from.