Runners’ poor technique can pave the way to injuries

HUNDREDS of thousands of runners may be getting injured each year because of simple technique errors, scientists believe.

More than two million people in Britain run regularly, but half suffer problems each year and there are around 500,000 “off the road” at any one time.

A study from the University of Salford’s running performance clinic looked at the technique of 108 runners who were injured with common complaints such as runner’s knee, shin splints and Achilles tendinopathy compared to injury-free individuals.

They found “common biomechanical patterns” among the injured, compared with those who did not experience problems. These included an outstretched leg and high foot angle at initial contact, as well as greater forward lean.

The pattern most strongly associated with the injured runners was side-to-side pelvis drop, otherwise known as contralateral pelvic drop. The team found that for every one-degree increase in pelvic drop above the usual runner’s average, there was an 80 per cent increase in the chance of injury.

“These are some of the most common injuries experienced by runners,” said Chris Bramah, a doctoral researcher and physiotherapist. “We can hopefully use this information to help runners recover from injury and prevent future injuries happening.”

The study was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine.