Running Room

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”

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”

Two words that can really stress out a runner: stress fracture.

A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone brought on by repetitive loading and strain, resulting in pain and tenderness at the injury site. Stress fractures occur most frequently in the foot (metatarsals), the shin (tibia) and the hip (femur or pelvis). The condition can be accelerated by inadequate muscular support; therefore, maintaining balanced muscle and bone strength is the best way to avoid a stress fracture.

Bones are the skeletal structures that provide attachment points for muscles, ligaments and tendons, which exert force in order to generate movement. The bones also receive their strength from proper use of the adjacent muscles, so any situation where there is muscle weakness or misalignment can lead to weakening of the bones, which may in turn lead to fractures. Continue reading “Stress Fractures”