Proper Running Techniques

Knowing and applying proper running techniques is the difference between simply going running in the hopes of not having to tend subsequent injuries and preparing your body for the exercise, knowing that you most likely will not have any injuries following your run. It is unfortunate that running is erroneously considered to be such a simple skill that it requires little---if any---preparation. Read on and learn proper running techniques that can keep you safe and that will also help to increase your running effectiveness.

  1. Significance

    • Running engages the whole body and various muscle groups. For this reason it is crucial that you prepare your entire body---not just your feet or ankles---for the exertion. Arms assist the forward motion by providing the balancing power for proper foot placement.

    Features

    • A closer look at proper running techniques shows important steps that a seasoned runner must undergo: as the leg moves toward the front, it must do so in a straight line, not curved. The hips, face, and chest must point forward--not to the side---as this preserves a workable center of gravity that is easily moved over the foot. The arms pump back and forth but never actually traverse the invisible line at the sides of the torso.

    Benefits

    • Employing proper running techniques permits you to avoid strains, sprains and other sports injuries that are common among athletes who disregard form for the sake of expediency. In addition, you will fatigue later, which is giving you an edge if you are running competitively. Last but not least, by using the correct techniques, you are going to find that your speed is highly likely to increase, as will your surefootedness.

    Misconceptions

    • It is a common misconception that changing faulty running techniques to proper ones is an easy task; after all, it is just running, or so the thought process goes. Instead, changing an already established---but found to be incorrect---running pattern is extremely difficult to change, and it will require a concerted effort by both the runner and the trainer to accomplish a permanent change in technique. Prepare yourself to spend a significant amount of your training time on this change in techniques.

    Warning

    • The difficulty of exchanging faulty running techniques for proper ones is due, in large part, to muscle memory; yet, in certain instances, you may find that the difficulty lays in the body's ability to substitute one movement for another if there is pain. Thus, you may have an untreated sports injury or other bodily injury that requires treatment. Do not ignore the pain but instead deal with it to ensure that your body will not suffer further damage. Undergo an examination by a sports physician for possible muscle tears, ligament injuries and also bone stress fractures.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Assuming that you will receive a clean bill of health, training for a change to proper running techniques involves the use of a treadmill to vary terrains and build endurance, a video camera to record your workouts to check on actual progress of the changes and also the help of a skilled trainer. It is the trainer who can give you the feedback on your efforts and also call out to you, as you might slip back into your old patterns during your run.