Should you try Chi Running?

  Staff        April 19, 2013

Chi running is a particular approach to running that involves a more of a midfoot strike of the ground as opposed to the more usual heel strike. There are a number of books on Chi running, DVD’s and courses that you can take. A number of benefits have been claimed for this running technique, but there is no evidence to support it and all the claims are anecdotal. There are also anecdotes of people getting hurt when they transition to chi running for more of a forefoot or midfoot strike of the ground. So, if you are a runner should you try it? There is no compelling evidence that anyone would benefit from it, but its is assumed that some runners will benefit from more of a midfoot strike and other runners would not. It is going to be an individual thing. A lot will depend on what injury history a person has and it the change in running reduces the stress on the parts of the body that they are having a problem with or increase it. There is no harm in giving it a go, but if problems arise, then advice is probably needed.

Hope for Anterior Compartment Syndrome

  Staff        April 11, 2013

A compartment syndrome is a problem in athletes when the fascia that surrounds muscles are tight. During exercise muscles expand, so if the fascia is tight the expanding muscle can cause pain. There are a number of treatment options for compartment syndromes, but most often they need surgery to release the tight fascia so that the muscle can expand. Other treatments that were offered generally were not that satisfactory.

In runners anterior compartment syndrome is the most common and this affects the front of the leg, sometimes called ‘shin splints’, which is a really poor term. Most runners did eventually need surgery to treat this. Now we have a new study that took 10 runners facing surgery for an anterior compartment syndrome and started them forefoot striking rather than the heel striking that they were doing originally. All 10 avoided the need for surgery, so this offers hope for those who have anterior compartment syndrome.