EVOLUTION OF RUNNING
Since man’s first early adaptions from Australopithecus to Homo Erectus, as a species we stopped swinging from the trees and started to walk and run on the ground. The foot has had to adapt from the ape’s hand-like appendage to an elongated foot with straightened toes and a propulsive big toe joint.Man ran to attack, to flee and to feed. Therefore it could be argued that running in its purest form is the most natural form of exercise any human can take part in.

CHRONIC RUNNING INJURIES
Many sports involve running - football, tennis, rugby to name but a few. The repetitive nature of running places high demands on the body's anatomy, especially the foot, ankle, knee and lower limb structures. This puts extra strain on the bony structure of joints and soft tissue structures such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Even for an athlete who has no biomechanical abnormalities, running can lead to injury. It is no surprise therefore that minor misalignments and structural deformities often lead to compensations which cause pain, swelling and dysfunction.

An experienced practitioner carries out an accurate biomechanical assessment and diagnosis involving techniques including digital video gait analysis. This can be used to provide an effective treatment regime to regain normal sporting activities. This involves a variety of therapies such as orthotics, stretching and strengthening regimes, footwear advice, manipulation and mobilisation techniques and other palliative therapies

A SPORTING LIFE…
Mike Cummings was a rugby player, sprinter and long jumper in the '80s. Now he is a keen tennis player with a love of sport. In years as a podiatrist he has taken part in research into gait types, from elderly people at risk of falls to elite athletes. He has also trialled new orthotic types, both in the private sector and the NHS.As both an ex-athlete and a lower limb biomechanics specialist, he possesses an intimate understanding of running/foot-related injuries.