GLOSSARY

Achilles Tendonitis An overuse injury of the Achilles tendon, a bundle of strong tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone (calcaneus) and produces power at push-off when running. Discomfort or a mild ache is usually felt in the back of the leg, just above the heel bone. The main cause of this injury is repetitive trauma—in the form of tearing—due to excessive stress in training. To prevent, try to avoid increasing training intensity and/or volume too quickly.

Bipedalism Derived from the Latin words bi (two) and ped (foot), this is essentially the act of walking upright on two limbs as a primary form of movement. Humans are bipeds. Most mammals use four legs to run with, so they are known as quadrupeds. Walking and running on two legs gives us a lot of advantages, including a greater field of vision (since our heads are lifted) while we move, plus the ability to wade in high water, access tree fruit, and carry weapons for fighting or hunting.

High Hamstring Tendinopathy A common condition in runners, this occurs when chronic inflammation develops at the origin of the three hamstring muscles, or the spot at the base of the pelvis (ischial tuberosity). Otherwise known as . . . wait for it . . . a pain in the rear! People afflicted with this condition often describe the pain as a vague, dull ache that usually limits stride length. Symptoms are more pronounced when running uphill.

IT Band Syndrome (ITBS) This unfortunately common overuse injury affects the connective tissue that runs down the outer thigh, from the pelvis to just below the knee. A sharp pain—usually strong enough to stop you in your tracks—is usually felt on the lateral aspect of the knee. Inflammation occurs when the stress on the IT band itself becomes overwhelming and the fibrous tissue starts to fray, one fiber at a time. My biggest (and best) piece of advice for runners with ITBS is to strengthen their adductors (groin muscles) to alleviate lateral knee pain.

Kinesiology The scientific study of the many physiological, biomechanical, and psychological aspects of human movement. It’s such a vast and complex subject that colleges and universities tend to offer various types of specialized degrees in kinesiology.

Patellar Tendonitis This is a common running injury that affects the tendon that connects the kneecap (patella) to the tibia or shinbone. The main causes are overuse (repetitive forces with foot strike) or tight quadriceps (thigh) muscles, performing an excessive amount of downhill running and/or ramping up training volume too quickly. Discomfort and pain are felt just below the kneecap. If left untreated, it could lead to severe (i.e., career-ending) damage of the tendon, so this needs to be addressed immediately after detection.

Physiology A discipline of biology that delves into the routine and organized functions of organisms and their various structures. Human physiology, for example, looks at all of the complex systems of the human body that work together to make life possible, such as organ systems, anatomy, cells, biological compounds, and the interactions of all of the aforementioned. Colleges and universities offer various levels of degrees and disciplines within the broader study of physiology.

Plantar Fasciitis In my opinion, this is the worst possible running injury out there, because it can linger for years in some cases. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the fibrous tissue on the bottom of the foot that is responsible for making the toes flex. When present, pain and discomfort is usually felt at the base of the heel and is usually most severe in the first few steps out of bed in the morning. This injury has the tendency to get “better” after warming up, but it will, unfortunately, revert to being sore once a training run is completed.

Runner’s Knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome) This is the most common knee injury among runners, hence its name. Pain and inflammation are caused by a misaligned kneecap that continuously irritates the femoral groove. Tight quadriceps can cause misalignment of the kneecap to occur, which leads to rubbing against the femur. Pavement pounding, or the repetitive stress of running, in general, can cause pain and inflammation in the kneecap region, especially when wearing worn-out shoes that don’t provide ample cushioning or support.