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

. This presents itself as cramp-like sensations which can stop you dead in your tracks. This is more difficult to treat conservatively, and although stretching and exercise can help, surgery is sometimes required. — Martin Haines, sports medicine consultant

be worth checking with your GP, and asking for an x-ray and blood tests to check that there are no clinical problems in your spine.—Martin Haines, chartered physiotherapist and sports medicine specialist

. —Martin Haines, chartered physiotherapist and sports injury specialist

-orientated. In this case, get a sports osteopath to mobilise the area and prescribe strengthening and stretching exercises to stabilise the pelvis in its correct position. Once this has been completed, you should be able to return to running.—Martin Haines, chartered

spasm, which would obviously be counterproductive. So unless your podiatrist can demonstrate a body of evidence to support this claim, the 30-second stretches may well be more appropriate. —Martin Haines, chartered physiotherapist and sports injury