The Guru is thinking plantar fasciitis and a poor tracking patella, so control is needed

September 11, 2014

Hi there,
I intend to run a half and a full marathon over the next couple of months but I am suffering two issues both on my left leg.

Bottom of the foot is aching around two months now – seems like a plantar fasciitis issue. Pain in the morning and while running, minor or no pain during the day.

As for the knee, it started aching on my first outdoors long run. I had to stop after 6 km (I had run 10 km two days before on the treadmill with no knee issue). Next days pain was occurring when I had to step up/down stairs.

After a few days of absence from running the pain went away but trying to run again on a treadmill the pain starts coming back after around 2 km.

I am logging some cycling and rowing time the days I feel I shouldn’t run to relief my foot and knee.

Could you please advise?
Thank you.
Best regards,
Konstantinos

 

Konstantinos
September 11, 2014

Hi Konstantinos

You’re describing really defined symptoms. If you look and feel around enough I’m sure you’ll be able to find some more too. It sounds as if you’ve got PF and a poor tracking patella. These are super common, but if you’re going to go on to run halfs and fulls then you’re going to need to get to the bottom of it all and treat the cause of your symptoms. Not the other way around.

When you’re getting symptoms like this on the same side it must be due to how you’re using your left leg rather than what you’re doing to it.

Commonly it’s all about control – can you control the amount your leg rolls in repetitively when our running. You generally loose control in 2 places. Your hip and your foot – this is where you need to spend some time.

Feet generally easier, but never the full answer, is are they in the right shoe for running.

Hips and pelvis need gluteal control – lunges,squats, split squats and monster walking all need to be cued up and got on with.

Control them amount of (subtle) rolling in your leg does and you’ll tart to control your symptoms.

The Guru

Six Physio

Guru Responded

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