Doctor Secrets! My Real Life…

I’ve seen many foot, ankle, and hip injuries in avid runners ranging from sprains to stress fractures. Being a jogger myself I know the biggest pain is not being able to run

So I’d like to share my runner secrets that help me to dodge jogger foot, knee and hip injuries:

1. Sprains and stress injuries are caused by repetitive slamming on hot spot pressure points. So orthotics can help but you can still develop repetitive step injuries while wearing them – my sister fractured her toe during a marathon while wearing orthotics. My solution is simple… rotate your sneakers. Many runners have half a dozen shoes but habitually only wear one pair. Each pair have slightly different pressure points. By switching them with each run hot spot pressure points get a break between runs.  Simple n’est pa.
2. Go for natural terrain. Pavements are too perfectly flat and hard. I like running on trails with pebbles and gnarly mud and craters because no two steps are the same. That means the shock to my tendons and bones keeps changing reducing my chances repetitive injury. Grass is my number two ’cause the sod absorbs impact.
3. If you feel soreness in your foot the day after a run wear soft soled Crocs or sandals until it abates. Walking around your  house barefoot on hard tile or wood perpetuates the injury by limiting tendon rest.

And that’s it. Hope it helps