New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions

Most people make New Year’s resolutions, and the classic one is ‘to keep fit and get in shape’. Based on clinical experience, I see many patients in late January and February due injuries as a direct result of their resolutions. This is not a good start to the year, especially when you are aiming for positive change. It will set you back, frustrate you and make achieving your resolutions less likely.

Here is some advice on how to reduce the risk of developing some common issues presented to me at this time of year. This should help you reach your goals without unnecessary obstacles and see the change you hope for.

YOUR CURRENT STATE

Think about your current level of activities. Be realistic. How much exercise do you currently do? Realising where you currently are helps you plan your progress. Remember, this is the actual level of activity that your body is currently accustomed to. Anything more than this, the body will need time to adapt.

INTRODUCE EXERCISE

Gradually introduce exercise. This may be as simple as going for walks before you start a run, running twice a week before starting to run five times a week, or becoming gym ready before joining a gym. Be patient, doing too much too soon will increase your chances of developing problems.

It is calculated that when walking, we exert around 1.5 times our body weight through our feet, and when running, this can be 3 times. These forces affect our bones and soft tissues more as they increase.

TIME

Allow time for your body to react to the increase in activity, and adapt. It is generally advised that you wait at least 48 hours for your body to recover from exercise before repeating. This is another reason why you should introduce your activities gradually – to wait for the feedback from your body on how you respond to the increased activity, and allow the time it takes to recover.

PREVENT

A full biomechanical assessment and gait analysis will often pick up problematic areas that can be addressed. Knowing and addressing your ‘weak spots’ will allow you to reduce the likelihood of developing an injury.

COMMON INJURIES

The below common injuries I see every week of the year. However, during this time of year they tend to be associated with New Year’s resolutions.

  1. Plantar fasciitis – Inflammation of the plantar fascia, often caused by increased loading of the foot with forces stretching and lowering the arch.
  2. Stress fracture – “A stress fracture is progressively developed from repetitively exerting the accustomed level of impact on a bone” – as explained in my blog on stress fractures here: http://podogo.com/2018/05/29/signs-of-a-stress-fracture-in-the-foot/
  3. Knee pain – this can be caused from malalignment of the knee, iliotibial band, and patella to name a few.

Get in touch if you would like to discuss how we can help you achieve your fitness goals injury-fee, or to arrange an assessment:

  1. 0207 412 8882
  2. – admin@podogo.com
  3. – 27 Harley Street, London, W1G 9QP

Written by Steven Thomas – Podiatrist, on behalf of Podogo
©Podogo Ltd. 2020

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