This week, I would like to discuss about the pros and cons and running. As you all are aware, running as a form of exercise and a recreational sport has taken Pune by the storm. Running, a sport which was less practised and less known is now a common play. Early mornings in almost each and every locality sees a score of enthusiastic runners – young and old, male and female taking to the streets and exercising. There are a few facts, which I feel one should discuss before one takes this sport.
The problems that I see in runners, is that of foot pain and shin splint. Shin splints essentially are small hairline linear fractures that occur along the axis or the length of the shin bone – the tibia. This is as a result of sudden accustomed strain on the tibia or the shin bone which leads to splintering of the bone at the microscopic level. The main important reasons, besides the unaccustomed exercise, is of course a poorly aligned foot. The alignment of the foot plays a very important part in any form of sport especially running. Well, we all have an arc on the inner side of our foot which maintains the pose of the foot. Many individuals have a collapsed arc which is commonly referred to as a ‘flat foot’ or as a ‘foot pronation’. In foot pronation, whenever we take weight on the foot, the arc collapses and this leads to abnormal eccentric forces on the foot and its tendons, as well as on the shin bone leading to a variety of foot and shin problems.
So before you buy those fancy shoes and start running, please pause and get your feet sorted out because that is the one main reason which can help you enjoy the sport. In the next column, I will discuss about the footwear options for individuals having a variety of foot shapes.
Dr Sachin Tapasvi is one of India’s leading joint replacement surgeons. He practises in Pune and has been awarded several fellowships with experience garnered internationally as well as in India.
- Dr. Sachin Tapasvi, ‘A Stitch in Time Saves Nine’ - December 15, 2016
- Dr.Sachin Tapasvi: Belts & Buckles of the Ortho Kind - November 9, 2016
- Dr Sachin Tapasvi: Trigger-happy? Ouch! - October 26, 2016
