How To Solve Your Injuries!

Data shows a single running injury could have life-long consequences, slowing down your pace long after it’s healed. Here’s what you need to know.

- Sarah Ivory, Ellie Robinson

How healthy is your body? If you’ve been injured in the past, it may not be in as good shape as you think. Researchers have discovered that simply spraining an ankle could change the way you move forever, even after it’s healed. The scientists from the University of North Carolina in America report that a past ankle sprain could linger for life, resulting in prolonged discomfort, an increased risk of re-injury and chronic disability.

Furthermore, if you’ve suffered a sprained ankle, you may experience poorer balance, slower running speed and even a reduced number of daily steps. The outlook is bleak – but it needn’t be that way. While the best way to avoid painful consequences is to prevent an injury from happening in the first place, experts agree that seeking a professional diagnosis and rehabilitative treatment can ensure you overcome the setback. In the case of a sprain, for example, you might want to consider doing some balance training to strengthen the muscles and ligaments that support the ankle. It’s a good thing there’s a cure, as data shows that as many as 50 per cent of runners get injured every year.

Here are four injury bounce-back strategies to get your body in balance again.

1 THE PROBLEM 

RUNNER’S KNEE

(patella tendonitis)

THE PROGNOSIS Knee damage makes up a whopping 40 per cent of running injuries. Overuse and the impact of seven times your bodyweight are to blame. Watch out for swelling – this is a red flag that there’s cartilage damage.