Mark Lin, a leading sports podiatrist hopes to make women more aware of the importance of gait and the way they use their feet when running. He says that awareness is especially important in female athletes since they are more prone to running injuries than men.
Although it has long been known that female runners are more prone to lower-limb running injuries than male runners, the exact reasons for this were unclear. But in July last year, researchers published the results of a study that might indicate just why female runners are more likely to get hurt.
It confirmed the suspicions of sports podiatrists like Lin: “Men and women coordinate their foot joints differently,” says Lin, “and this is unsurprising because the centre of gravity also differs. As a result, running injuries to the feet and ankles are also more prevalent in women.”
Avoiding Running Injuries: Barriers to Physical Activity, Maintaining Health, and Enhancing Performance
Lin is concerned about the high incidence of young people, particularly young women, dropping out of sports and avoiding physical activity. There are several barriers to sports participation that women face, including confidence issues, but Lin worries that the tendency towards running injuries could have a role to play too.
“If you’re inclined to get hurt when you perform a certain activity, you’re going to start avoiding it,” he says. “You might not be put off the first time it happens, but if it keeps happening, you’re going to quit.”
The health implications in the overall population could be far-reaching. Ill-health and inactivity go hand-in-hand. If you don’t get moving often enough, you start losing muscle. Muscle helps to support your body, and by avoiding exercise, you actually become more prone to injury. And, as we know, there is a lot of concern about the health consequences of being overweight. Which is why it is important to seek advice and assistance if you have suffered from running injuries in the past.
If Foot Pain is an Obstacle, a Podiatrist can Help
“When I say I’m a sports podiatrist, a lot of people think of me as attending to the super-fit,” says Lin. “The truth is that I do see a lot of top performers, but only because they’re more likely to be aware of the benefits of podiatry in sports.”
Sports podiatry, says Lin, can help anyone with foot or lower-limb issues – including women who’d like to run but who have bad experiences with lower limb and running injuries in the past. “You don’t have to have a current injury. Podiatry targets the causes of injuries, so if you tend to experience them, we help you to address their cause.”
About The Footwork Clinic
The Footwork Clinic, situated in Chatswood on Sydney’s North Shore and Sydney CBD, is there to help should you have an injury or condition that you think would benefit from heat or ice treatment. They offer advanced manual therapies and a holistic and corrective care approach, with a proven track record of success in resolving acute and chronic conditions, and they will gladly offer advice to get you on the road to recovery as soon as possible.
For further information, visit the The Footwork Clinic – Leading Sports, Podiatry, Foot And Lower Limb Corrective Services to book online, or call Mark Lin or his friendly team on +61 2 9131 6891.
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The information contained in this guide is provided in good faith and is not intended to be nor is it to be used as a substitute for any sort of professional, medical or podiatric advice. An accurate diagnosis can only be made following personal consultation with a podiatrist. Any users should always seek the advice of their podiatrist, or other qualified healthcare providers before commencing any treatment.
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