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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Runner’s Knee and the processes of prevention & healing

Posted June 14th, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Courtney Albon

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab

The term “runner’s knee” refers to an inflammation of the tendon, the (ITB), that is located on the outside of the thigh. As injury to this tendon often results from overuse of the knees, and runner’s rely on their knees to function within their sport, the title “runner’s knee” is quite appropriate. The name is, however, deceptively exclusive as runner’s knee describes an ailment common among individuals who are active in a spectrum of activities such as biking, walking, or jumping.

As mentioned above, the inflammation of the ITB can be a result of overuse or overstretching of the tendon in any activity that requires repeated knee bending. Misalignment is also a factor in the injury. If a bone is out of it’s correct position, then the excess stress being placed elsewhere can result in the pulling and inflammation of the ITB. The tendon can also undergo stress because of weak thigh muscles or a direct injury to the knee such as a fall or a blow. Runners with flat feet, or fallen arches, often have knee problems as the ITB is forced to stretch in order to compensate for the missing arch.
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It’s time! … To start rotating your running shoes!

Posted January 26th, 2007 at 9:00 AM by Jim Fortner

Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Training Tips

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

Rotating two or more pairs of running shoes can produce the following benefits:

1. Reduced risk of injury.
2. Extended lifespan of shoes.
3. Flexibility to use different types of shoes for different types of runs.

It takes up to 48 hours after just a few miles of running for the midsoles of running shoes to fully recover their shock absorption properties. Allowing them time to recover at least that long reduces one’s risk of injury and extends the life span of the shoes.
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Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Posted January 12th, 2007 at 11:11 AM by Jim Fortner

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

The most important thing about an Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) injury is to determine and correct what is causing it.

The first step is to give it sufficient time to heal properly. That usually means no running for at least a couple of weeks, and sometimes up to 6 weeks in severe cases. In most cases, trying to “run through the injury” is counterproductive. “Busting your butt” in an attempt to strengthen the ITB to get past this problem just exacerbates the problem.

The next step is to analyze the potential causes of the injury.
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