Back pain

As a clinician and as a participant in internet discussion forums related to running injuries I have the opportunity to observe and respond to questions. The questions asked by individuals who are striving to solve repetitive use injuries are varied, in terms of type of questions and the degree of sophistication of the questions.    

It seems like every runner I know round here was out yesterday running the Bolder Boulder course.

The race itself -- billed as America's biggest 10k -- is happening next Monday, Memorial Day. I decided not to run, then thought I might, if only to keep a friend company and on pace. So I had my pick of start times yesterday, ranging from 6am to do the course in a series of 1k repeats; to 8am with a some fast guys; to 10am with a more "recreational" group.

But...for the past couple of days I've been on UK time doing some magazine deadline work and when I finally got to bed on Friday night I really needed some uninterrupted sleep. Well, I got it: 11 hours straight. (Yes I know, I am a world champion sleeper!). However, I don't know what I did in my sleep, but when I eventually got up I found that my buttock muscles on the right side were completely seized up. OK, normal morning getting-older syndrome, I thought. But no. They wouldn't loosen up. We toddled round to the cafe for breakfast; well Abby toddled; I limped. It just wouldn't let go -- I poked and pummelled, foam rollered and stretched, finally stuck acupuncture needles in myself.. there was no point running.

So now I'm getting it in the neck from all quarters with the outrageous suggestion that I shouldn't be doing deadlifts "at my age". Ha!

Browsing the news sites what do I find but a mini-epidemic of back injuries among British athletes training in the US:

1. "World Junior 100m champion Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has returned to London after suffering a back injury during training in the United States. The 18-year-old is now having to rethink his plans for the summer..." (BBC news)

2. "Paula Radcliffe has pulled out of the Tesco Race for Life in London on Wednesday after another minor setback following her training camp in the United States. Radcliffe, who gave birth to a baby daughter in mid-January, suffered a back injury during her stay in Colorado..." (Sporting Life).

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