Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Why Running Isn’t Bad For Your Knees, How To Exercise Without Pain & Move Faster (Without Even Trying!) with Helen Hall #434

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Mar 13, 2024

Helen Hall, a movement therapist, running coach, and pain expert, joins to dispel the myth that running harms the knees. She explains how improper technique, not running itself, causes knee pain. The importance of head posture for balance and injury prevention is highlighted, along with innovative strategies for improving running efficiency. Helen shares insights on embracing a run-walk strategy for better recovery and mental health. Finally, the conversation emphasizes the impact of body awareness and proper footwear on movement quality.

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INSIGHT

Running and Knee Pain

Running is not inherently bad for your knees; knee pain in runners often stems from other issues.
Consider how you're running and if your walking patterns are contributing to the problem.

INSIGHT

Head Position and Movement

An adult head weighs around 5 kilos, and a forward head posture adds extra weight and strain on the body.
This misalignment can significantly impact movement and increase the risk of pain and injury.

ADVICE

Ego and Movement

Ego and societal conditioning can hinder reaching full movement potential by making us avoid strategies like walk-run.
Consider letting go of ego to achieve potential and improve efficiency and reduce risk.

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Today I’m thrilled to welcome my dear friend, Helen Hall back to the podcast. Helen is a movement therapist, a running coach, a pain expert and one of the best coaches in any modality that I have ever come across. She has had a lifelong passion for analysing posture and movement, and her clients include elite athletes, whether they be runners, cyclists or premier league footballers, but also everyday folk who simply want to walk or run pain-free.

She combines objective clarity from the most advanced motion analysis technology in the world, with 46 years of visual experience and study in the field, to seek out the root causes of chronic pain and injury, that often seem resistant to standard treatment protocols.

In order to help more people than those able to visit her in person, she first shared her movement philosophy in her wonderful book ‘Even With Your Shoes On’. She has gone on to create a series of online videos to help more people move pain-free. Helen has also launched an online course called ‘PFM Pilot’ which is getting fantastic reviews - it is aimed at both professionals working in the field of movement, pain and injury, and also amateurs who are keen to learn more and help themselves.

Helen first came on my podcast on Episode 216 in November 2021 and many of you got in touch to say how helpful the tools shared in that episode were.

In this conversation, we continue where we left off:

We talk again about the vital importance of our head position – and how to become aware of how you’re holding your own head, if you’re struggling to know.
We bust the myth that running is bad for your knees.
We discuss walk-run strategies and how they can help all of us reduce injury, recover more quickly and run faster.
We discuss why ‘foot wiping’ - a very simple practice that I do on most days - could help you move with more ease.
We talk about the importance of spending time barefoot.
We discuss minimalist shoes and why we are both big fans.

Since I began working with Helen she’s become a cherished friend, whose wisdom and insights cover much more than walking and running. Her message for this brilliant episode is straightforward and optimistic: think about your head, think about your feet – and don’t assume that you can no longer move without pain. She is an inspiring lady, this is an inspiring conversation, I hope you enjoy listening.

Thanks to our sponsors:

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Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/434

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.