Bupa Greater Winter Run And Ankle Injuries

The Bupa Greater Winter run was yet again a resounding success, with thousands lining up at Holyrood Palace for the 5K course around the park. Being the first major run of the year it gave everyone an opportunity to start gently with a course that circled the park of the Scottish capital.

January is always a difficult time for those looking to stay fit, following the holiday period where food is plentiful, therefore participants will have been mindful about their upcoming participation and the need to stay on course with their training plan to ensure they achieve their goal as well as staying clear of injury.

Running injuries are typically focussed on the lower body, with a tremendous amount of force being put through the knee and ankle joints. The effect is amplified when running on solid ground or road running compared to running off road where there is more of a cushioning effect on the joints. In this article we will focus on some of the different types of ankle injuries sustained by runners and probably some of those participating in the Great Winter Run.

Sprained Ankle

This is one of the most common forms of running injuries sustained and typically results from overuse, with a patient rolling their ankle or twisting it and causing mild damage to the ligaments within the joint.

A sprained ankle is described as a self-limiting condition as in the majority of cases it will heal given an appropriate level of rest. Ice can be used to help manage any inflammation and over the counter painkillers taken where required, but ultimately you should be back on your feet within a couple of days.

An ankle support can also be used post injury to help you stay active for longer. The compressive nature of the support helps to manage inflammation as well as protecting the joint from further unnatural movements which can cause subsequent injury.

In the event that the injury fails to subside after a couple of days then you should seek clinical advice as the injury may be worse than first anticipated.

Ankle Ligament Damage

Ligaments are the tough bands of tissue within a joint and are responsible for its stabilisation, allowing you to jump and run without difficulty. Whilst a sprained ankle does damage the ligaments it is mild, whereas a diagnosed ligament damage injury is one of the more serious ankle injuries and can result in a lengthier spell on the sidelines.

Any impact to the stabilisation of the joint can be detrimental to your overall movement, hindering your ability to apply weight to the joint, let alone run. In more serious cases surgery may be required to stitch the ligaments back together, followed by an extensive period of physiotherapy to rebuild strength in the joint.

As with other ankle injuries an ankle support can be employed to help offer additional stabilisation of the joint, acting as an external ligament. This can offer additional support when mobile by help to manage any inflammation and through maintaining joint alignment to minimise any unnatural movements.

Broken Ankle

A broken ankle is one of the more extreme running injuries you can sustain and luckily something the majority of runners will hopefully never experience. A break in the bone is typically an accident, whether landing awkwardly from a fall or getting your foot caught when running on uneven surfaces, such as cross country running.

This is by far one of the most painful running injuries you can sustain, with varying degrees of severity. A simple break may not require surgery to remedy, with the ankle being set in plaster and requiring you to use crutches for a period of time. If the break is more severe then surgery may be required in order to realign the joint and pin it back in place, followed again with a period on crutches before you can even consider getting back out on the road again.

In the aftermath of such an injury an ankle support can be worn to offer an additional level of support to the joint when active, helping to minimise the risk of further injury through unnatural movements.

Final Thoughts

There will be a number of people waking up today feeling the effects of the 5K run yesterday and even some who have noticed the odd strain. Running injuries are unfortunately something we are all likely to encounter at some stage therefore it is important not to dwell on the injury itself but on how you can recover from it and return fitter and stronger than before.

The majority of running injuries are self-limiting and you should expect to recover following a couple of days of rest but if you are unsure then you should speak with a doctor as further treatment may be required in the form of rest, physiotherapy, a sports brace, surgery or even a combination of all of them.

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