Weak Hip Stabilizing Muscles Linked to Knee/Leg Injuries in Runners

80 % of running injuries occur at or below the knee, suggesting that there is some common mechanism of injury as the root cause of these injuries, according to a study, Suspected Mechanisms In the Cause of Overuse Running Injuries, published in Sports Health (May/June 2009). According to the authors, most running injury risk factors can be categorized as either 1) atypical foot pronation mechanics or 2) inadequate hip muscle stabilization. However, no link was found between atypical foot mechanics and running injury mechanisms. In contrast, a large and growing body of literature suggests that weakness of hip-stabilizing muscles leads to atypical lower extremity mechanics and increased forces within the lower extremity while running. Runners can help prevent these injuries by including "Core" and Hip strengthening exercises to their fitness program.