Running injuries are notoriously tricky to diagnose. Most injuries result from overuse, rather than sudden trauma, and without a single, obvious trigger, it can prove difficult to correctly pinpoint the pain's source. Many running injuries stem from a different area than where they hurt. Runners who don't seek medical help may misdiagnose their injuries.
And even some practitioners can have a hard time identifying the cause of your pain, especially if they don't typically treat athletes or if you don't detail your training These common runners' maladies may - or may not - be what they seem. Discuss the possibilities with your health-care provider.
What hurts? Shins
You think: Shinsplints
But it could be: A Stress Fracture
The Difference
The pain strikes the same lower-leg area. However, shinsplints pain lessens as you warm up, while stress-fracture pain continues through the end of a run. Stress-fracture pain often feels deep and radiates over a wide area, and weight-bearing activities increase the discomfort. If you're unsure, or if symptoms don't go away in three weeks, get a bone scan to rule out a stress fracture.
What hurts? Knees
You think: Runner's knee
But it could be: Iliotibial Band Syndrome
The Difference
The iliotibial band (ITB) is connective tissue that runs from your hip to your knee. A tight IT band can cause friction along the outside of your knee, which is why it feels like a knee problem. I've seen people get surgery for a meniscus tear and the doctor gets in there and realizes there's no tear. If it's ITB syndrome, then running downhill, lengthening your stride, and keeping your knee in a bent position for extended periods will exacerbate your symptoms. Stretching to loosen the band can help resolve the problem.
What hurts? Lower back
You think: Back injury
But it could be: A Piriformis Strain
The Difference
The piriformis muscle is deep in the hip region, next to the sciatic nerve. If it becomes strained and goes into spasm, it can mimic a lower-back injury. Often piriformis strains happen when you're putting in a lot of mileage on hard surfaces. The pain usually centres around the gluteal region and gets worse with prolonged sitting. A doctor or physical therapist can differentiate between sciatica and piriformis syndrome by stretching your piriformis muscle and conducting range-of-motion tests. The good news: Piriformis injuries tend to respond well to physical therapy.
What hurts? Sinuses, Neck, Random body parts
You think: A persistent cold or a few nagging injuries
But it could be: Overtraining Syndrome
The Difference
Push your body beyond its ability to recover, and it will start to break down, a phenomena that exercise physiologists call overtraining syndrome. The problem is that every runner's body has its own breaking point, and the warning signs are easy to brush aside. Look for a cascading effect. It's a chain of events. You had one thing and now it's two and then three.
Overtraining actually results from too little recovery, which can happen even at low mileage. You're run down, so you keep getting colds and little aches and pains. Other symptoms include moodiness, depression, a dip in performance, trouble sleeping, and persistent fatigue. The cure: rest and recovery.
About the Author:
Sandra Prior runs her own bodybuilding website at http://bodybuild.rr.nu.