As a physical therapist whose patient base includes about 75% running athletes, I commonly see training patterns that lead to injury. Most of the time, these running injuries are self-inflicted due to a person’s desire to reach new goals, try new gear, or change their form based on advice from a magazine or YouTube.  Here are the top five reasons why runners get injured and have to see a physical therapist, and my recommendations to avoid injury:​   Sporadic mileage without clear planning or goals. Running injury prevention doesn’t have…

It might be tempting to lace up whatever sneakers you have on hand, head outside, and start your run. But training in any old pair of shoes is never a good idea. In fact, running in the wrong shoes can be painful, or even cause injury. Your shoes absorb a lot of shock with every stride, and without the right shoe to absorb that shock, your run can take a toll on your body. Here are three common mistakes runners make when it comes to choosing and maintaining their footwear,…