We have some very motivated trail runners in our team. This photo is of Steve Cunningham, but Kristen Brace and Renee Coleman have also competed in UTA events and in Kristen’s case she has completed the Western States Marathon. So, when the opportunity to chat to a group of motivated runners recently presented itself, we jumped at the opportunity. Here are the basics:
A tendon is a flexible cord that attaches a muscle to a bone allowing the muscle to move a joint.
When it comes to tendon injuries and distance runners, the most common conditions we see are overuse injuries.
A tendinopathy is an umbrella term for pain and pathology in a tendon.
Common sites of tendon injuries in runners are:
Generally the more you do the worse the pain is and the longer it lasts. With an “irritable tendon” quicker onset of pain and lasting for more than 24 hours.
How do I prevent it?Physiotherapy does help.
Guided strength program is the best treatment for tendinopathy.
There is no “quick fix” – getting a tendon to adapt to load takes time and compliance with your rehabilitation program.
Photo credit – Tarawera Ultra Marathon
