Being a runner is awesome. But it can also be a pain. Nearly 80 percent of runners suffer from running injuries. And, I can tell you after being injured for more than a year with my hamstring tear, it’s not fun.
Related: Lessons learned from my running injury
I wish we had a crystal ball to tell us what to do when we experience pain. But we don’t. Instead, we have physical therapist Joe Norton of Washington D.C.-based Joe Norton PT, a practice specializing in runners. Joe’s a (father) runner knocking on the door of a Boston-qualifying time who, after being helped through several injuries by physical therapists during his collegiate career, wanted to do the same for others.
His knowledge is straightforward, science-backed, and can likely you save you from hurting yourself, and yes, taking time off running.
Common Running Injuries & Their Causes
What is the most common running injury?
The knee is the most common site for running-related injuries followed by the lower leg then the foot. In my clinical experience, patellofemoral (kneecap) is the most common running issue I see. This is followed by medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints) and hip pain.