Running and muscle strengthening are the perfect combination for better running, but be careful not to neglect the deep muscles to avoid back pain.
Knees, heels, calves, runners are often subject to a lot of pain. The back is one of the parts of the body that can be affected.
From researchers at Werner University in Ohio, in the United States wanted to understand the causes of this pain and how to prevent it. They realized that runner’s back pain usually comes from a lack of deep muscle development.
A muscle imbalance that causes back pain
Most people do not have very developed deep muscles, it is often the abdominals that are worked by athletes. Scientists assessed muscle movements during physical activity using motion sensors and force-determining plates.
“We measured the dimensions of the runners’ bodies and made a computer model specific to each person,” explains Ajit Chaudhari, director of the study. Underdeveloped, and therefore weak, core muscles force the abs to work harder to compensate. The abdominals tire more quickly, and this muscle imbalance can create pain.
It’s not the chocolate bars that make you run well
“Working for chocolate bars and trying to become a better runner are two very different things. If you look at the excellent runners, they don’t necessarily have the chocolate bars, but their muscles are harmoniously developed,” adds Ajit Chaudhari.
For these scientists, it is therefore better to strengthen the deep muscles through specific exercises, far from classic abdominal muscle building.
“Static exercises that force you to use your core muscles and hold your body in place will really make you a better runner,” concludes the researcher.
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