Welcome to your first step in improving your sporting performance.

If you have been directed to this page you are a Clapham Chaser, either connected to the club as a runner or part of the growing triathlon community. Hopefully you are not here because you are injured but because you are keen to understand more about avoiding the common injuries that runners can sustain. 

This resource is designed to help runners develop their foundation which is important for injury prevention and to allow the best results from any performance development training you may be undertaking, now or in the future. It is hugely important for runners to develop their athletic ability to enable their bodies to move efficiently and adapt to training stresses. We are keen to keep you running and reduce the risk of injury.

The goal here is to build stronger runners, who are more durable, move efficiently and are therefore less likely to sustain injuries. You enjoy your running, whether it is racing, triathlon or recreational running to stay fit the key for every runner is to be able to run. Injuries are an unavoidable part of any sport however there is plenty that can be done to reduce the injury risks, and this is the main purpose for you here. 

We have looked at the most common running injuries, knee related if you are interested, and analysed the driving forces behind those injuries, hip control and movement patterns, and put together an individualised retraining programme to help you improve your movement patterns and reduce your injury risks. Yes the focus is on the hip however it plays a major role in back problems in runners, hip and knee injuries along with the landing pattern and so foot, shin and other ankle and tendinopathy issues too. 

In this section you will find the assessment video.

This is the key video for the prevention programme to work effectively. Understanding how you move and where your weaknesses lie so you can address them and change excessive stress in one part into even loading across your body. In turn improved movement will help reduce your injury risks.

Build a Stronger Runner

Once you have completed the analysis video find the correct retraining or maintenance programme according to your movement patterns, even those with good movement should work on hip control and strength so there are 3 programmes below. Find the right solution for you.

In this section you will find the retraining exercises for the hip flexion control issues.

So you have identified an inability to stay upright when you complete the split squat exercise. In the following videos you will find the four key exercises to help improve your hip range of movement and muscle activation. It will take you between 6-8 weeks to improve your movement patterns here, particularly if you sit at a desk all day, therefore you need to focus on a good routine that you can complete at least three times a week for the best results. It would also be beneficial to work on your hip flexor and quad flexibility to, so get your stretching routine right along side this programme.

In this section you will find the retraining exercises for hip rotation control issues.

So you have identified an inability to control rotation when you complete the single leg hip and hold exercise. In the following videos you will find the four key exercises to help improve your hip range of movement and muscle activation. It will take you between 6-8 weeks to improve your movement patterns here, particularly if you sit at a desk all day, therefore you need to focus on a good routine that you can complete about three times a week for the best results. It would also be beneficial to work on your hip flexor flexibility to, so get your stretching routine right along side this programme.

In this section you will find the retraining to maintain good hip strength.

You fall into the lucky runners who currently have good hip control, which is brilliant news. So here we have combined the toughest exercises from both retraining programmes to help you maintain your good hip strength that is already in place. Too often we see over time that our habitual postures change and adapt our to movement patterns. This is your chance to use the programme to maintain good movement control around your hips and reduce any adaptions the body may make over time. This would be a great programme to work into your post run sessions once or twice a week to help you stay strong and improve your performance.

Stay strong for long term benefits

what next for your injury management?

If you have found that the hip training has helped your running form and possibly even your speed then it would be sensible to incorporate this training into your weekly routine. The problem with habitual postural changes is you have to keep working on the maintenance side to obtain the best long term results. Too many runners focus on pain alone and when this settles stop the training and revert back to old habits, not surprisingly problems return.

If you enjoy your running then keep up the good work to allow you to enjoy and maximise your potential.

If your problem has not resolved or you are still experiencing issues then it is a great idea to review your current running form. The Body Logic Health, Running Evolution programme is a fantastic way to understand how you move and the issues that can be addressed to move better and run better.

Build A Better Runner.

Are you experiencing pain down the outside of your thigh or specifically into the lateral knee region?

ITB Pain:

ITB pain is an overuse injury that effects the outside (lateral) part of your thigh and knee where the tendon rubs against the bone causing inflammation and pain. It occurs commonly with runners as the friction is created when the knee is bent past 30 degrees which usually happens when your foot strikes the ground when running, particularly if you tend to cross the midline when you run.

You will identify ITB pain if you get a sharp or burning pain on the outside of the knee that may gradually get worse if you continue your activity and may lead to swelling.

If this pain occurs, immediate action is to stop, take a break from running whilst icing the painful area for 30 minutes (5 minutes of ice followed by 5 minutes without). ITB pain will usually go away after a few weeks but more importantly is correcting movement patterns, releasing the stress on your IT band and strengthening the muscles around the hip & knee joint improves movement patterns ot prevent loading.