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Muscle Strains

The body has hundreds of muscles of  various types—slow twitch, fast twitch, skeletal, smooth and cardiac, to name a few. Muscles provide their power by contracting and relaxing, thereby generating a force that causes movement. Running muscles require a strong anchor (where one end of the muscle attaches to a bone or ligament) and the other end of the muscle connects to the flexible part of the limb. When that muscle contracts or shortens, movement of the joint is produced.

The science behind this muscle contraction and relaxation is very complex. It involves proteins called actin and myosin, along with various other elements including calcium, potassium, sodium and water. This is why it is so important to supply the fuel (water, electrolytes, etc.) for the muscles to work while you are training. Continue reading “Muscle Strains”

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Arthritis and Running

We’ve invited readers to send in topic suggestions for this column, and we received this question from David: “Is it possible to run or jog when one has a chronic and painful condition of the knee, like arthritis?”

To begin, there are many causes for “arthritis.” I’m using quotation marks since the patient has to be satisfied that the diagnosis of arthritis is correct in the first place. Arthritis of the knee should definitely be confirmed before any alterations of activity or lifestyle are made. Continue reading “Arthritis and Running”

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Ankle Sprains

with Dr. Richard Beauchamp M.D., FRCSC

An ankle sprain refers to an acute or sudden injury that results in tearing of any of the ligaments of the ankle. Ligaments are strong tissues that attach to the adjacent bones of a joint, providing stability and limiting excessive movement. Sprains are usually graded according to the severity of the injury, as follows:

Classification: Grade 1
This refers to a mild stretch of some of the ligament fibres only. The individual is able to initially walk on the ankle without much discomfort. There may be some swelling, but recovery is usually complete in a few days. Continue reading “Ankle Sprains”

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Ilio-Tibial Band (ITB) Friction Syndrome

by Dr. Richard Beauchamp, M.D., FRCSC

Ilio-tibial band (ITB) friction syndrome is a condition/irritation that causes pain along the outside of the leg due to inflammation related to the ilio-tibial band.

Anatomy :
The ilio-tibial tract is a condensation of muscle and tendon into a structure called the ITB. It runs from the outside of the pelvis (“Ilio”) above the hipbone and extends along the outside of the thigh, over the prominence of the hip and the knee and ends up just below the knee joint (“Tibial”) (Figure 1). This band begins as a muscle incorporating the hip and buttock muscles (flexors and abductors) but soon becomes a tendon with very little muscle function by the time it gets to the knee. It is meant to stabilize the knee primarily and the hip secondarily during walking and running. If your particular running style is abnormal, the ITB can be subjected to excessive pull or force that will make the muscle contract and cause resultant rubbing (hence the term “friction”) over the areas where it is close to the bone and other solid structures. (Figure 2) The ITB is a very important factor in the kinematics and kinetics of the leg during running. As this muscle-tendon complex spans two joints (hip and knee) it is very susceptible to forces from a multitude of causes. These can include leg length discrepancies, persistent running on uneven or canted surfaces, increased knee flexion from overstriding, which may include downhill running. Continue reading “Ilio-Tibial Band (ITB) Friction Syndrome”

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What You Need to Know About Runner’s Knee

by Dr. Richard Beauchamp M.D., FRCSC

Have you experienced pain around the front of your knee(s) during or after a run? If so, you may have had a case of runner’s knee. Runner’s knee is actually a vague term used to describe the above symptom—pain in the knee. However, it is not necessarily a precursor of arthritis; in fact, it has been said that there is no correlation to hip and knee arthritis in active marathoners.1

Runner’s knee is a common condition, but the actual causes and effective treatments are not easily explained. Runner’s knee is a grab bag of other diagnoses and conditions often aggravated by the pounding of the legs on the ground during your sport. Your legs have to generate force in order to run, as well as absorb force in order to protect your bones and muscles from injuries. Runner’s knee can also occur in walkers, although not as frequently. Continue reading “What You Need to Know About Runner’s Knee”

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Can I Return to Running After My Hip Replacement?

by Dr. Richard Beauchamp, M.D., FRCSC

Joint replacement surgery, particularly of the hip and knee, has become one of the most frequently performed operations around the world. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, over 300,000 total hip replacements (THR) are completed in the United States every year, and the number of knee replacements is even higher. Continue reading “Can I Return to Running After My Hip Replacement?”

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Pain in the Butt

by Dr. Richard Beauchamp, M.D., FRCSC

Recently, we invited readers to send in topic suggestions for this column, and here is one of the replies we received:

“May I suggest an article about butt pain? In my case, it is probably a glute issue, which may or may not have been caused by years of running without adequate stretching. It is certainly inhibiting my running now. Is there anything I can do?” Continue reading “Pain in the Butt”

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Fractured Fibula

by Dr. Richard Beauchamp, M.D., FRCSC

The fibula is the bone on the outside of the leg and is the smaller of the two bones of the lower leg (the other is the tibia or shin bone). The tibia handles most of the weight bearing responsibilities while the fibula contributes to the stability of the knee and ankle joints. The fibula keeps the ankle joint in line and helps, along with the ligaments, to prevent ankle sprains. Continue reading “Fractured Fibula”

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Plantar Fasciitis

by Dr. Richard Beauchamp, M.D., FRCSC

The “plantar” surface refers to the sole of the foot, while fascia is tough, fibrous tissue with no active muscle. The plantar fascia serves as a connecting structure from the back of the foot (at the heel bone) to the front (at the toes). It supports the arch and assists in the biomechanics of walking and running. Although the suffix “itis” suggests inflammation, the plantar fascia has a limited blood supply so inflammatory changes are minimal. A more appropriate name for this ailment would actually be plantar tendonopathy. Continue reading “Plantar Fasciitis”