& REHAB
STRENGTH TRAINING
IS CRITICAL FOR
INJURY-FREE RUNNING
Too few running clients appreciate the role that hip strength training plays in
both improved performance and the prevention of injury.
WORDS: BRAD BEER
ll runners recognise the need for aerobic training in their
pursuit of their running best. Far fewer recognise the need
for strength training. As fitness and health professionals it
is important that we educate our running clients about the need to
incorporate regular strength and conditioning exercises into their
training schedules.
Of paramount importance to the runner is the need to have
sufficient hip muscle stability and strength. Without it, the likelihood
of sustaining an injury is vastly elevated.
A
What is hip stability?
‘Hip stability’ refers to the ability of the muscles around the hip joint
to minimise excessive and unwanted movements of the hips when
performing a task or certain movement.
For our purposes, we are interested in the role that the hip
muscles play in generating hip stability during the running motion.
While the hip muscles play a role in stabilising the hips during the
airborne phase of running, the hip muscles’ chief role is to stabilise
the runner’s hip when the runner lands alternately on each leg.
Exercises such as side bridges, front planks, and abdominal
crunches and sit ups are commonplace in both gyms and athlete’s
home programs. While such a focus on the developm