Q I suffer from recurring lower back pain, which is a result of minor scoliosis and narrowing of the lumbo-sacral disc space. My GP says I should stop running, while my occupational health doctor says running won’t do me any further harm. Who

-->Strengthening your lower back and abdominal muscles should help ease any pain you experience while running. To minimise stress on the lower back, use an upright posture (ie no slouching) while sitting, standing, walking, and running. You can also

When your lower-back muscles are weak, you are more likely to suffer from nagging pain, bad posture or below-par running. To keep this critical ‘core’ area strong, you need to strengthen and stretch the erector spinae muscle group. The following

Q Since having my last baby I have experienced a burning feeling down through my sacro-iliac joint. Occasionally I feel an ache deep in my buttock. I’ve tried osteopaths, physiotherapy with ultrasound and now acupuncture, and I would appreciate some advice from you. I had th...

toughened up versions of simple moves. If you are doing your first home-exercise routine, then the basic moves are more than adequate.1. The Anti-crunchLie on your back, with a rolled-up towel under your lower back. Bend your knees and squeeze two books

to work simultaneously to perform a single move. "The bands work on synchronising the lower and upper body, which helps provide core stability, balance and muscular power – all things that can improve a runner's performance," says Sheehan.Getting Started

in Colorado, USA. "Running requires the coordinated effort of multiple muscles of the stomach, lower back and hips, all working to create a stable pelvis," he says. "These muscles anchor your whole body when you run, and you can't make a strong push

Euros on day.ENTRIES TOLongford Marathon, Lower Main St, Longford, Co Longford, Rep of Ireland (00 353 43 24078)

Bent-Over RowRest your left knee and arm on a bench, bend your right elbow and lift a dumbbell straight up. Lower. Do 15 reps per arm.

pulls were the second most common complaint, with shin splints coming in fourth.Why are they so common? Anyone who runs on hard surfaces, trains in worn-out shoes, rapidly racks up mileage or neglects stretching and strengthening the lower leg is at risk