, strengthening and massaging them, they still won’t necessarily be complaint-free. That’s because the source of thigh issues is often not in the legs at all. You have to go higher. "Many thigh injuries can be traced back to weak hip muscles, such as the gluteals

, strengthening and massaging them, they still won’t necessarily be complaint-free. That’s because the source of thigh issues is often not in the legs at all. You have to go higher. "Many thigh injuries can be traced back to weak hip muscles, such as the gluteals

Q I have only just been bitten by the running bug, and although I feel no pain while running, the next day I get a niggling discomfort on the outside of my left hip. It doesn’t hurt when I touch it or when I’m sitting down, but I’m aware of it when

) or neglected (understretched, understrengthened), they’ll complain. And the result could be one of the two most chronic, hard-to-heal injuries a runner can face – namely, plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis. To avoid the dreaded ‘itises’ it helps to first

) or neglected (understretched, understrengthened), they’ll complain. And the result could be one of the two most chronic, hard-to-heal injuries a runner can face – namely, plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis. To avoid the dreaded ‘itises’ it helps to first

Q I have a triple injury. First I got a pain under my hip, then a swollen ankle and now a pain in the back of my knee. All on the right side. I recently switched from trail to road running – could it be due to the camber?A There could be two

Q After just a couple of months of running, and after finishing my first half-marathon, I’ve been getting muscle spasms in my hips and back. I’ve had to stop running, but I still get them after any light exercise. I’ve been to a physio

as the upper leg, with the result that pelvic and upper leg injuries may sometimes be indistinguishable and may often become confused. By virtue of their anatomy, hip joints allow a wide range of movement, not only forwards and backwards, outwards and inwards

Q I’m 35 years old, and have recently been told that the intermittent hip pain that has affected me for a year could be arthritis, and that I should stop running. While I accept that a marathon is out of the question, is it really the end of my

to contract properly) and also mobility exercises for the spine. In addition, you need a full stretching programme for the muscles and nerves that relate to your hips and spine.—Martin Haines, chartered physiotherapist and sports injury specialist