Have you ever had a small ache that started during a run or workout? At first you can ignore it like a whisper but then it starts nagging louder, until that whisper turns into a loud shout- and you have got yourself an overuse injury. Unlike a sudden twist or fall, these sneaky injuries happen slowly, and then before long they are throwing you off your exercise routine.

What is an overuse injury?

It is exactly what it sounds like, your body’s tissues (including muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and bones) are being used more than they can handle- without enough time to recover. Factors like sudden jumps in training load, poor technique, skipping recovery time and weakness/muscle imbalances can all contribute to developing an overuse injury.

This can look like:

• A runner clocking too many kilometres too soon, running 5km last week to 10km this week
• A gym-goer maxing out without rest days
• Even a desk worker glued to their laptop for hours without taking a break

Your body is like a bank account. If you keep withdrawing (training, repetitive movements, loading) without depositing (rest, recovery, strength work, stretching) you will end up in the red- and that is when overuse injuries strike.