Are You Making These Mistakes While Running and, Therefore, Damaging Your Feet?

Running can help you keep your heart healthy, help you stay in shape, and leave you feeling good in your body. But without the right preparation and approach, you might end up hurting your feet or ankles, resulting in injuries that take time to heal. 

You want your running routine to help you feel better, not cause discomfort or complications.

At Town Center Foot & Ankle, board-certified podiatrist Dr. Stephen Eichelsdorfer can advise you on how to avoid common running mistakes and the resulting sports injuries. 

He provides comprehensive podiatry care, including sports therapy, to new and existing patients from around the Kingwood and Atascocita, Texas, areas.

Are you making any of these common running errors? Here’s what you need to know.

Starting off on the wrong foot

Your preparation makes a big difference when it comes to your activity-related risks. Start off your running on the right foot every time, with the right warmup and a good training plan.

Don’t push your body too hard or fast as you start or intensify a running program. That’s a recipe for injury. Instead, increase your intensity in steady intervals. Overtraining can set you back, because you have to take time off to fix your feet.

Also, stretch thoroughly every time you run. Without the right warmup routine, you risk overuse injuries and long recovery times.

Failing to focus on footwear

Footwear matters when it comes to running. And it’s not enough to just find the right running shoes. You also need to pay attention to wear-and-tear on your shoes, and update your footwear whenever necessary.

Wearing the wrong shoes is likely to result in foot pain and running injuries. Talk to Dr. Eichelsdorfer about your running shoes. It can also help to partner with professionals at a specialized athletic shoe store to find the right fit and support for your feet and training plan.

Not getting the right orthotics

Orthotic inserts can improve the position of your forefoot, arches, ankles, and legs when running. Over-the-counter orthotics from a drugstore or shoe store can benefit you somewhat, but custom orthotics from a professional podiatrist like Dr. Eichelsdorfer gives you the best targeted support.

Orthotic devices are available that work with all types of footwear, including running shoes. Dr. Eichelsdorfer provides custom orthotics that give your feet and ankles the perfect amount of support, exactly where and when you need it most. 

Custom orthotics can help you prevent injuries by realigning your foot and lower leg. Orthotics can also correct alignment problems with your feet that could lead to damage over time.

Bad biomechanics and physical stress

Running uses your whole body. If you have bad posture or overstride when running, you can accelerate wear-and-tear on your feet, ankles, and spine. 

Bad biomechanics are a problem that you can correct by keeping good posture with your head up and your back level, and swinging your arms back and forth (not side to side) when you run.

If you notice aches and pains in your feet, shins, or back, stop and pay attention to what your body is telling you. Continuing to run on limbs that need examination, care, and often rest, is only likely to worsen injuries.

Not getting sports medicine support

Training puts your body through a lot. That’s why you need an experienced team of medical support professionals on your side. 

At Town Center Foot & Ankle, we’ve worked with many athletes and understand what your body needs to continue to operate at peak performance while minimizing damage and risk of injury.

To learn more about common running mistakes, and how you can avoid these pitfalls, contact Dr. Eichelsdorfer today. Schedule your initial consultation by calling us or requesting an appointment online now.