, particularly during faster sessions. For days afterwards the area is painful, even to gentle massage. I only use the ‘traditional’ rugby stretch of one foot back with my heel to the floor. Is the problem caused by my changed running surface, or could it be my

. —Martin Haines, chartered physiotherapist and sports injury specialist

.Medical investigationsX-rays will confirm wear of the joint cartilage, which exposes roughened bone surfaces to each otherWhat else could it be?Gout.Self-treatmentYou should gently try to mobilise the joint, pulling and pushing it into extension and flexion and holding

and another surface, whether it be socks, shoes or a combination of both. To solve blistering problems you need to look at the following. 1) Do your shoes fit correctly – are they wide enough, deep enough and long enough to accommodate your feet? 2) Are you

) Real-life stories: how two runners beat back pain Injury-Proof Your Back: five sets of everyday tips to stay pain-free Curls and superheroes : back-strengthening exercises

and front of the thigh bone respectively, and their size and position affects the angles the legs move at, and particularly the way that the patella (kneecap) moves. Your anatomy and the patterns of your muscle use determine many of the injuries you

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

into injury. Don't add more than two or three miles a week (or 10 per cent, whichever is greater).The surface you run on makes a huge difference to the impact your body absorbs. Try to do at least half your running on grass or off-road trails. Also, get your

UAN:206 Article type:--A bursa is a space between soft tissues and/or bone and is filled with fluid which acts to reduce friction between adjoining surfaces. However, if it becomes damaged, more fluid is formed, causing it to swell, become inflamed

not necessarily prove that these changes were actually causing the pain. Many people have degenerative changes show up on x-rays, but feel no pain at all.Quite often, damage and changes to the articular surfaces of the hip joint point to a biomechanical problem