Doc On The Run Podcast

How endurance leads to marathon failure

Endurance athletes are uniquely prone to self-sabotage. 

Ironically the destruction rises out of the very skill that lends us the strength to finish a race like a marathon.

Success comes from being strong. 

Healthy runners are fast runners. 

No one runs their marathon as fast as possible when injured.  

No one gets a new PR with pneumonia.

Today on the Doc On the Run Podcast, we’re talking about how endurance leads to marathon failure.

One critical mistake runners make when flying to a race

Destination races hold a lot of appeal. Awe inspiring scenery. Amazing cultural experiences. Fast, flat courses.

We spend countless hours and significant sums of money just getting to some of these destination marathons and triathlons. 

Obviously, if you are heading to a key race in a far-away place, you want to have the best race possible. 

Incredibly, many runners make one simple but crucial mistake that can truly hamper the chances of success in finishing under your goal time.

Today on the Doc On the Run Podcast, we’re talking about the one critical mistake runners make when flying to a race.

4 Trends injured runners should track

Every runner in training tracks progress to monitor for improvement. 

Heart rate, wattage, mileage, pace, and perceived exertion are all commonly tracked by athletes in training.

So many athletes preparing for an event, so diligently track and record metrics which reassure us and provide visual confirmation that we are on track toward our goals.

Yet, many of these same athletes simply stop recording any data at all when they get injured and abandon their training plans.

You have to think of healing just like training. You need to see progress. You need to track improvement. 

There are a few metrics which you should record on a daily basis when you're injured and trying to get back to running as quickly as possible.

Today on the Doc On Run Podcast we're talking about 4 trends injured runners should track. 

#255 3 Torn plantar plate treatment options

A torn plantar plate can be one of the most frustrating injuries for a runner.

A runner who has been following many of the suggestions regarding ways to reduce the stress and strain on the plantar plate ligament, has been treating the injury on her own and was getting better.

Then she recently got a set back and understandably got super frustrated.

But like most strong runners, she is focusing on the possible solutions instead of wallowing in self pity.

She wrote in and said…

I am desperate to be able to even walk barefoot without pain, to be able to run on the treadmill and jump !!  I am wondering whether it is worth trying the following :

1. Massage 

2. Ultrasound therapy 

3. Plasma Therapy 

Today on the Doc On Run Podcast we're talking about 3 different torn plantar plate injury treatment options worth considering.

#254 Difference in healing time of old fracture vs recent fracture

A runner and a listener to the podcast recently sent in a question regarding how long it takes to heal an old fracture versus a new fracture.

There are many risk factors for developing problems with healing a broken bone.

Each year there are about six million broken bones the United States. Somewhere between 5% and 10% of all of those fractures do not heal as quickly as we would hope and turn into what is called a fracture non-union or a delayed union.

A “fracture non-union" is just what it sounds like. It means to the fractured pieces of bone did not unite. They did not get back together and the fracture just did not heal.

A "delayed union" is a broken bone that isn't healing as quickly as we would expect.

Today on the Doc On Run Podcast we're talking about the difference in healing time of an “old fracture” vs a “recent fracture.”

#253 What is the standard routine for a partial tear of the plantar fascia?

I recently got  a question from a runner with a partial tear of the plantar fascia who asked,

"I am struggling with a partial tear - going on 6 months of pain with running.I’ve tried everything - PT, rest, PRP, and most recently embryonic membrane injections.

This injection was four weeks ago - with crutches for 5 days after and boot for two weeks.

I’ve also had four weeks of no running at all and still have the pain. I would love to know what your “standard routine” is for this condition."

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about the standard routine for healing a partial tear of the plantar fascia in a runner.

#252 How long to heal stress reaction vs stress fracture in a runner

Is there a difference in healing time when there is a crack in the bone visible on x-ray, compared to when a runner has a “stress fracture” with no visible crack on x-rays.

What do you think?

Would it take less time to return to running if you have a stress fracture with no crack visible on an x-ray than if you do actually have a crack visible on an x-ray?

The answer surprised many doctors a medical conference where I as just lecturing and it may surprise you, too. 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about how long it takes to heal stress reaction vs stress fracture in a runner.

#251 Sesamoid stress fracture surgery in runners

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about surgery for a sesamoid stress fracture in runners. If you're a runner and you start having pain under the big toe joint and you develop this thing called a sesamoid stress fracture, you may get really worried. In fact, if you go to see a doctor, you're probably going to get a lot more worried because the doctor's probably going to tell you these things can be very, very difficult to heal. Well, it is true. For years I've been lecturing to doctors at medical conferences about running injuries, and one of the things I often talk about is that sesamoid stress fractures are one of the very few problems a runner can get that really does warrant a serious dial back in activity to make sure that you can take the stress off of that sesamoid bone.

#250 Does running increase or decrease oxidative stress?

Oxidative stress is something that normally occurs in all runners.

But we know free radicals and the consequences of an imbalance of oxidative stressors can delay tissue healing.

Anytime you have an overtraining injury and you are trying to get back to running, you have to make sure you are healing as quickly as possible.

The big question is whether or not exercise, such as running, has a positive or negative affect on oxidative stress.

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about whether running increases or decreases oxidative stress.

 

 

#249 Execute your healing plan with the same tenacity you execute a training plan

When you decide to sign up for a race, you start training. 

You follow a specific plan that you know will get you stronger and stronger, day-by-day.

You make a plan to get to your race, prepared to achieve your goal time. 

But what happens when you get injured?

You basically do something completely opposite, completely different, and not at all in alignment with the strengthening process that you know works when you're training.

Today on the Doc On The Run podcast, we're talking about why you need to execute your healing plan with the same tenacity you execute a training plan.