into full-blown injuries is much better than letting them progress unnecessarily; prevention is better than cure. Ideally, this type of assessment should be done by a health professional, such as a physiotherapist, who is experienced in movement analysis

prevent the injury occurring again in the future.—Andrew Caldwell, chartered physiotherapist at East Midlands Phyisotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, Loughborough

an unaccustomed muscle activity. Typically, it occurs in the gluteals, quadriceps and shin muscles, especially after running downhill or sprinting. It’s always advisable to cool down with slow running and stretch after exercise, but this won’t necessarily prevent

, your best course of action is to stop and gently stretch the affected muscle. Massage can also help, but you really need to prevent cramps from occurring in the first place. Try these tips:Stretch your quadriceps thoroughly (right) after running

result, using an elliptical trainer can certainly prevent loss of fitness, but don’t expect it to keep you in top running form over extended periods without running.I would recommend that you use a combination of key sessions throughout the week. Mix

The DS Trainer is updated every year, amd now enjoys Asics's Biomorphic Fit upper. That means that softer, stretchier mesh in two key points around the midfoot and forefoot to help prevent blisters and improve fit. Some testers loved last year

to provide fuel and replace fluid losses are well documented, you may find that gastrointestinal discomfort prevents you from consuming enough sports drink during exercise to offset fluid loss.Some experts suggest you drink 150 per cent of the fluid lost (e

to keep your blood sugar levels steady – this will have the added benefit of preventing your digestion being overloaded. Some herbs, such as ginger, peppermint and fennel, are also good for digestion. Buy some tea bags or make up your own from the raw

as a preventive throughout the hay fever season. On days when your symptoms worsen, try the anti-histamine loratadine. In severe cases, steroid eye drops or nasal sprays (allowable under IOC rules) might be required. In time, often tens of years

important and will prevent your muscles and tendons from becoming overloaded. – Ian MoffattSome swear by prevention rather than cure I religiously follow the stretching guide which I found here on RW, especially paying attention to the ITB stretches. Several