Injury is the most common reason for runners ‘retiring’ from the sport, especially as far too many attempt to run through pain without thought for the consequences. Chronic injuries – that is, long-standing ones – are invariably more difficult

. Injury, in the form of a rupture, may be due to an accident in everyday life, or as a result of sporting trauma. If a tear occurs, nine times out of 10 it will be in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).SymptomsYou are likely to have twisted your knee

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

UAN:234 Article type:--Shinsplints are one of the most common running injuries. They result from tired or inflexible calf muscles putting too much stress on tendons, which become strained and torn. Overpronation aggravates this problem, as can

of the tibia (shin bone), where the patellar tendon from the knee joins it.SymptomsYou are probably aged between 10 and 14, play a variety of sports, and have developed a painful bony swelling below the knee. It will hurt with strenuous activity, particularly

.Medical investigations These are needed to eliminate other causes. If you’re old or have already suffered injury from contact sports, early osteo-arthritis may show up on an x-ray. Additionally, blood tests can reveal generalised diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis

excessive uphill running, in which the tibialis anterior muscle expands and may produce fluid which stretches the compartment sheath. Signs An experienced sports physician will locate the pain between the tibia and fibula and may sense increased pressure

to almost any injury. If the pain hasn’t disappeared the next day, don’t try to run on it. The only time it can be beneficial to run through pain is during rehabilitation when you may need to overcome a little initial stiffness to regain the muscle