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Lower extremity injuries in runners. Helping athletic patients return to form
1Department of family practice, Mount Carmel Health, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Postgraduate Medicine
|October 1, 1995
Summary
Running injuries, often musculoskeletal, typically stem from training changes like increased mileage. Athletes running over 40 miles weekly face higher risks, with knees commonly affected, but shin, ankle, and foot injuries also occur.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Musculoskeletal Health
Background:
- Running injuries are common, primarily affecting the musculoskeletal system.
- Changes in training regimens or running technique are frequent causes.
- High mileage (over 40 miles/week) significantly increases injury risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline common running-related musculoskeletal injuries.
- To identify key risk factors for running injuries.
- To describe standard and advanced treatment protocols.
Main Methods:
- Review of common running injury presentations.
- Identification of causative factors, including training errors.
- Description of diagnostic and treatment approaches.
Main Results:
- Knee injuries are most prevalent, followed by shin, ankle, and foot injuries.
- Sudden increases in weekly mileage represent the most common cause.
- The RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is a primary treatment.
Conclusions:
- Primary care physicians need to be adept at diagnosing and managing common running injuries.
- Awareness of conditions requiring specialist referral is crucial.
- While RICE is effective, more aggressive treatments, including surgery, may be necessary.