Injury-Free Running: How to Build Strength, Improve Form, and Treat/Prevent Injuries

by Thomas C. Michaud

We were not born to run. If we were, injury rates among runners wouldn't be so high. Of the 12 million runners in the United States, the annual injury rate is close to 50%. This translates into nearly 2 million stress fractures and 4 million sprains/strains. To run injury-free for decades, you have to be strong, coordinated and most of all, well informed. While various experts will give you advice based on anecdotal information (e.g., wear minimalist shoes, strike on your midfoot, and never stretch), with over 200 illustrations and 240 references, this book reviews the scientific literature to show you how ~Develop a running form based on your alignment, prior injuries, and desired running speed. ~Design a personalized rehab program you can do at home by evaluating your arch height, flexibility, strength, and coordination. ~Choose a running shoe that is right for you. ~Select the best preexercise warm-up routine. ~Treat 25 of the most common running injuries with the most up-to-date , scientifically justified treatment protocols available. Praise for Injury-Free "Dr. Michaud's experience with athletes has been long running and highly praised. His vast knowledge of the human body and understanding of biomechanics will help you achieve your peak potential. This book is a great resource for athletes of all ages and abilities." -Joan Benoit Samuelson, world record holder in the marathon from 1983-1985, and gold medalist in the 1984 Olympics. "From personal experience, I know that Dr. Tom Michaud is an expert on the biomechanics of this wonderful sport. If you love running, you will love this book." -Uta Pippig, Olympian and three-time winner of the Boston Marathon. "Dr. Michaud kept me running through the toughest parts of my career. The information in this book can help runners of all levels remain injury-free." -Tegla Laroupe, women's world record holder in the marathon from 1998-2001 Injury-Free Running is written and illustrated by Dr. Thomas Michaud. Dr. Michaud has published numerous book chapters and dozens of journal articles on subjects ranging from the treatment of tibial stress fractures in runners, to the conservative management of shoulder injuries in baseball players. In 1993, Williams and Wilkins published Dr. Michaud's first textbook, Foot Orthoses and Other Forms of Conservative Foot Care, which has been translated into four languages and continues to be used in physical therapy, chiropractic, pedorthic, and podiatry schools around the world. His latest textbook, Human The Conservative management of Gait-Related Disorders, has over 1100 references and is one of the most detailed reviews of running biomechanics ever published.

383 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 27, 2014

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of great info with understandable diagrams. The descriptions are also well done. While I'm not expert in this area, The parts I did not like involved the way the author backed up his points.

It was common-place for him to refer to the long-held position of some large group (the industry, experts or the running world, etc.) and then say that XXX person (very often a single experiment as I understood it) proved otherwise. I am hesitant to accept things when a single example is taken as proof of almost anything. The author did this repeatedly and made me question some of his conclusions.

Also (but a more minor point), the author spends an inordinate amount of text, aimed at convincing the reader that humans were not "born to run"... then gave a mountain of evidence that shows we run better than most creatures. I suppose it's a semantic argument (especially without a definition of "born to run"). I don't understand why this single point was so important to the author.. I began to skim that part... I just want to be a better runner... not confirm or deny the accuracy of the phrase "born to run". I certainly did not share this agenda with the author.

Having said all that, I learned a great deal about the body and some specific things that I'm glad I learned.

[Venkataraman Sridhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great store of usable knowledge

[Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great information.

[CherylR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very comprehensive and well researched.

[Rebekka Kuzichev · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had amazing information on running an biomechanics. I have never read or been taught this thoroughly on how each muscle in the lower extremity functions when running. He gives recommendations for injuries both in prevention and rehabilitation. The only things I didn’t like was how much he recommended orthotics since they seem more like a crutch than something that can really help improve natural function. He also didn’t mention the psoas ONCE which I was shocked about.