Countdown to the Chicago Marathon
In just a couple short weeks, over 47,000 runners from all over Chicago and sometimes even the world will run through the streets of our beautiful city. Over the past 45 years, runners have faced heatwaves running in 89 degree weather as well as cold fronts measuring as low as 21 degrees. Whether it’s hot or cold on race day, it’s important to pace yourself and stay hydrated. In fact last year volunteers passed out over 66,000 gallons of water and just under 33,000 gallons of Gatorade at aid stations throughout the course. Unfortunately lack of hydration isn’t the only problem that can occur during race day. No matter how long or well people have (or have not) trained, there is always the possibility of injury.
Here are some of the most common injuries we see in marathon runners:
Runners Knee - this occurs when the knee cap and the tendon that connects it to your lower leg get overused and result in pain. This can occur from poor running form and/or weakness in the quads and gluteus medius.
Achilles Tendonitis - too much repetitive tugging on the Achilles tendon by the calf muscle results in pain swelling and damage to this important tendon. Pain with push off during running would indicate this might be your issue.
Shin Splints - the repeated use of the shin muscle (anterior tibialis) tugging on the bone every time the foot/toes are lifted during the swing phase of running can result in irritation to the periosteum or attachment point of that muscle resulting in pain. If gone untreated this can eventually progress to stress fractures of the tibia. This is probably the most serious issue we see. If you have this kind of pain don’t ignore it and just keep running. Get it checked out.
ITB Syndrome - the IT band attaches just below your knee and the repeated bending of the knee causes this tendon to rub past the outside of the knee resulting in pain and inflammation. Strengthening the right muscles and addressing your running mechanics and cadence can mitigate this.
Muscle Strain - usually the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gastrocs are the main culprits. Rest, some recovery work with a physical therapist, and the right strength program will usually solve these
Meniscal Injuries - the meniscus is a cushion between the bones that make up the knee joint. When a tear occurs in this tissue you may get catching and locking in your knee.
Research indicates that more experienced runners are less likely to experience injury, but it does not mean that they are immune. So whether you have been running for decades or you are just beginning your running journey, 606 Physio is here to help identify the cause of your pain and get you back to peak performance. Schedule your free phone consult today or book an evaluation by calling/texting 312-217-2550.
Fredericson, Michael, and Anuruddh K Misra. “Epidemiology and aetiology of marathon running injuries.” Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) vol. 37,4-5 (2007): 437-9. doi:10.2165/00007256-200737040-00043