Over the last 5-10 years ultra marathon running has grown in popularity with pavement and trail races popping up throughout the West. Ultra trail running events are described as distances greater than a marathon, in mountainous terrain, and involving elevation changes. Authors report a 5200% increase in these events between 1978 and 2008 (Hoffman et...
In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice, the examination of a runner’s gait is a critical part of the evaluation giving us insight into the factors which either precipitated or perpetuated a running related injury. The forces transmitted across the body in running can be 2-4 times body weight and must be absorbed efficiently to reduce...
Marathon running is a challenging event requiring substantial amounts of endurance and strength training for optimal performance and injury prevention. The race distance of 26.2 miles requires high mileage training, often >75-100 miles per week at the elite level, placing the athlete at risk of a running related injury (Saragiotto et al. 2014). In addition...
As the snows melts many of us will return to the amazing Boulder trail system for our training runs. This popular form of exercise comes with tremendous health benefits, but can also place some runners at risk for running injuries such as knee pain. Patellofemoral Pain (pain on the front of the knee) is the...
The human foot is a remarkable structure of 26 bones and 30+ joints integral to both walking and running. The foot must be able to both flatten (pronate) and absorb the forces of the body, as well as, become rigid (supinate) in preparation for propelling us forward. This balance of mobility and stability is accomplished...
It is hard to find a runner who has not missed a training run or competition due to injury. Among the 20 million Americans who run on a regular basis about 1/3 to 1/2 will sustain a running related injury this year. This percentage has driven a substantial amount of attention towards shoe wear, running...
This week we posted on the benefits of strength training on cycling performance. Specifically, how strength training improves our body’s use of resources including oxygen and fuel to power us through our endurance workouts. The more economical or efficient endurance athlete will be able to sustain a higher speed for a longer period of time...
The tibia is the largest bone in our lower leg and absorbs the majority of weight bearing stresses during running. The tibia’s anatomy and function make it the most commonly affected area for stress fractures/injuries in runners. These injuries account for up to half of all stress related injuries among runners (Hreljac et al....
In running, performance is easily quantified as the fastest time over a given distance. The runners with the fastest times often have the best ability to utilize oxygen (VO2 max), process metabolites and substances involved in energy utilization (lactate threshold), and the most efficient running form. Efficiency in running is described as running economy, similar...
Last year an estimated 30 million people ran at least 50 days for exercise and health benefits (Running USA). The fastest growing segment of the running community includes older adults who gain impressive cardiovascular, muscle, bone, and mental health benefits compared to their sedentary peers. In addition, contrary to popular but incorrect old...