RunningPhysio

27/03/2026

Running Repairs is coming to Cambridge!
Join us for 2 days devoted to running rehab including key injuries, gait re-training, S&C and lots more!
Book your place today: https://f.mtr.cool/jfsbtfzvgr

27/03/2026

Doing the 'battery test' with patients has been really illuminating! It often opens up good conversations about energy levels, sleep and recovery.
How is your charge at the moment? 🪫

26/03/2026

6 ways to reduce shin pain when running

Shin pain during running is one of the most common running injuries and it's one of the toughest to treat! The most prevalent pathology in this region i

25/03/2026

Does inflammation play a role in tendinopathy? 🤔

We had moved away from it but recent research is suggesting both local and systemic
inflammation may be part of the pathology.

What do you think?

Key reference:
Gehwolf R, Tempfer H, Cesur NP, Wagner A, Traweger A, Lehner C. Tendinopathy: The Interplay between Mechanical Stress, Inflammation, and Vascularity. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2025 Sep;12(36):e06440. doi: 10.1002/advs.202506440. Epub 2025 Aug 26. PMID: 40855996; PMCID: PMC12463082.

24/03/2026

Hip adductors and the abdominal muscles work synergistically to help stabilise the trunk and pelvis. Work them both with this exercise, a nice option for Adductor Related Groin Pain.

23/03/2026

Many different loading programmes can be effective for tendinopathy. The most effective ones tend to be progressive and tailored to the individual with rehab adapted based on symptom response 🏋️

21/03/2026

Intrinsic foot muscles can be weak in patients with Plantar Heel Pain🦶

Progressive strengthening of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles can be effective, especially in runners and active individuals.

See my previous posts for recent research on which exercises are effective to target these muscles.

20/03/2026

Target the glutes and get the buns burning with these 3 exercises!! 🔥

Reference:
Collings TJ, Bourne MN, Barrett RS, Meinders E, GONçALVES BAM, Shield AJ, Diamond LE. Gluteal Muscle Forces during Hip-Focused Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Exercises. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2023 Apr 1;55(4):650-660.

20/03/2026

‼️Anterior Tibial Stress Fractures are high risk.

They present with more focal anterior tibial pain than Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) so be specific about pain location and behaviour when taking a history.

Anterior Tibial BSIs can lead to a true fracture of the tibia and require surgical intervention. They’re associated with prolonged periods away from sport and a high complication rate so need urgent investigation and careful management are needed including exploring energy availability and bone health.

19/03/2026

What are the peak forces involved in running?

Peak forces during running can be surprisingly high! The calf, quads, glutes and hamstrings all manage high peak loads during running which is why

12/03/2026

What exercises work the core muscles?

Oliva-Lozano et al. (2020) answered this question with a systematic review examining research on muscle activation.

It’s important to note that these results are not definitive. Not all exercises have been tested and it’s hard to compare different exercise options as varying loads and assessment methods have been used in the studies.

Free-weight exercises generally appear to perform well in challenging the core and have the added benefit of working other key muscles. They can also be progressively loaded which isn’t always the case with traditional core exercises. In addition unilateral loading may increase core muscle activation.

More research is needed to see if targeting the core is necessary and effective for treating people with pain or injury.

P.S. That’s not all me in the images. I had a lot of help from AI - I had to ask ChatGPT to make me less buff 😉

Reference:
Oliva-Lozano JM, Muyor JM. Core Muscle Activity During Physical Fitness Exercises: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jun 16;17(12):4306. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17124306. PMID: 32560185; PMCID: PMC7345922.

09/03/2026

My go to exercise for foot and ankle rehab! 🦶

Recent research shows that adding a forward lean or load to foot exercises increases intrinsic and extrinsic muscle activation.

This makes the forward lean calf raise a valuable exercise option with a host of benefits!

Reference:
Osborne JWA, Menz HB, Landorf KB, Whittaker GA, Cotchett M, Kelly LA. The influence of body posture and added mass on intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscle activation and force output during common foot strengthening exercises. J Sport Health Sci. 2025 Dec 16:101110. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2025.101110. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41412495.