Q I recently turned my ankle and suffered a pulled ligament as a result. After 10 days in a cast and a week in an ankle support, Im now able to run again. But Im concerned about long-term weakness. Is there anything I can do to strengthen the ankle, and should I run in a sup...
Q Im 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 running career? Before this diagno...
Q I’m just about to return to running after three months out with a lower-back injury (disc and sacro-iliac joint problems). What sort of training should I do to return to running fitness without risking more injury?A When returning to training, particularly high-impact trainin...
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 wont do me any further harm. Who should I believe?A Scoliosis is the...
Q I suffered from pain in my hip and back for about 12 months. Then my back suddenly stiffened completely while I was out running and I had to stop. It has been variously diagnosed as a slipped disc and a trapped L4 nerve, but after treatment and lots of rest, the problem is sti...
Q My middle toe on my left foot curls downwards and under my second largest toe so that when I run, the bigger toe pushes down onto it. This is rather painful. A physiotherapist told me that the problem could be caused by my flat arches, but the orthoses they prescribed dont se...
Q Im an overweight beginner who can now run three to four miles every other day at a steady 10 minute/mile pace. But a few years ago I suffered fallen arches, which caused quite considerable pain. My GP recommended arch supports, which I stopped using when the pain diminished. ...
Q Ive been told by my GP that Im suffering from Policemans Heel, which he said is the same as plantar fasciitis. Ive had it for three months now, and despite trying painkillers and supports in my shoes it hasnt improved. Now Im having acupuncture is this a waste of time?...
Q I suffer from what I believe is called Mortons toe, where my second toes are longer than my big toes. This causes great pain during and after running. A pair of shoes half a size larger than normal sounded like a good idea, but it has failed to cure the problem I still ge...
Q My quadriceps always cramp up when I run marathons, even though I hydrate well and stretch regularly. Why is this, and what should I do?A Exercise-induced muscle cramps are relatively common among distance runners. Quadricep cramps typically occur when muscles are used repeti...
