Back Pain and Running

Back Pain and Running?
Another reason to run with good biomechanics is that it reduces your chance of lower back pain.  Between the L4 and L5 vertebrae in your lower back is a disc. When we aren’t kind to this disc we develop problems in the lower back, which in turn lead to a melee of other issues.
During the running gait cycle, when your heel contacts the ground it’s important that you have a slight knee bend (flexion of approximately 20 degrees), as demonstrated by James Young in the picture ( His foot is another issue which he is working on, so watch out anyone in his age group). This knee flexion allows the impact forces to be dissipated through the knee and hip before they reach his lower back. Landing with your forward leg fully extended at impact means that most of the impact forces (which have been measured to be between 5-8 times body weight) need to be dissipated by the athletes’ lower back and the lion’s share of the work is done by the L4/L5 disc.
To run better, healthy and happy contact Malindi Elmore at the Canadian Runner Clinics offered in Kelowna BC. www.canadianrunner.ca

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Hamstrings and Running Economy

In a recent publication of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, the authors concluded that the hamstring muscles played the major part in the decline of running economy. They felt that the hamstrings in most athletes were the muscles that fatigued prematurely which resulted in economy breakdown. The conclusion therefore is to strengthen the hamstring in both of its functional positions, with the knee straight and bent.