Aiming for a PB? Or just to get around the course in one piece?

26 miles is an awful long way, and completing a marathon requires huge commitment to training. It is not surprising that a lot of runners end up developing back and leg injuries from pounding pavements and treadmills over the winter months.

Most marathon injuries are overuse injuries. This is usually the result of muscle imbalances. If one muscle isn’t pulling its weight, or another muscle is excessively tight, then you run in sub optimal alignment. This can cause excess strain to be put through your joints and other tissues. Your body will tolerate this to a point, but at some stage this will lead to pain. Poor foot biomechanics and inappropriate footwear can also cause pain.

Successful injury management therefore lies much deeper than just rubbing the sore bits! An analysis of your underlying movement patterns is essential. This will help to eliminate the cause of your pain – not just the symptoms.

Running the Marathon for the first time?

At Central Health we have a team of physiotherapists, masseurs, podiatrists and a sports physician with vast experience in many sporting environments. We use digital video software to enhance our analysis of your movement patterns. This will enable us to devise an exercise program to resolve any biomechanical issues and get you back to pain free running. We can also advise you on appropriate footwear and orthotics.