The Pat Kenny Show Some of the myths around injuries and running
Oct 10, 2025
Jenny Branigan, a Chartered physiotherapist, dives into the myths surrounding running injuries. She explains how weak glutes can cause IT band pain and stresses the importance of glute activation pre-run. Common knee injuries like patellofemoral pain are linked to biomechanics and training errors. Jenny also discusses the relationship between calf strength and Achilles issues and highlights the importance of replacing running shoes regularly. With valuable advice on managing injuries and the significance of posture, her insights are a must-listen for runners.
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Activate Glutes Before Running
- Activate your glutes before long runs with banded glute exercises to improve hip stability.
- Warm up normally and prioritise recovery, and see a physio promptly if you feel issues after the run.
Knee And Below Are Most Vulnerable
- Most common running injuries occur at or below the knee and often relate to strength, alignment and previous injury history.
- Strength above and below the knee and biomechanical factors like foot arches shape knee pain risk.
Build Whole-Leg Strength Early
- Build whole-leg and core strength early in training rather than waiting until the end of your cycle.
- Treat the leg as a kinetic chain and strengthen glutes, quads and calves to reduce overload on tendons and joints.