As a workout, running has much to offer; runners don’t need classes, physical facilities or equipment, other than a pair of shoes, so it’s inexpensive. It’s an easy and accessible sport that can be done nearly anywhere, so it is not difficult to fit a run into a busy schedule. But there is one disadvantage to running as a workout: People who do a lot of it tend to get hurt.

In fact, at least 50 percent of regular runners get hurt each year—some estimates put the percentage even higher—sometimes from trauma, such as a fall, but more often from overuse.

“People who run, love it. But you need the right preparation to be a safe runner and avoid injuries,” says Elizabeth Gardner, MD, a Yale Medicine orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine. She recommends getting fitted for sneakers at a store that specializes in running shoes, and balancing running with other workouts like swimming or yoga that don’t involve pounding the pavement. “Cross-training and stretching go a long way toward avoiding running injuries."

Yale Medicine Orthopedics & Rehabilitation offers expert diagnosis and treatment for all types of running injuries.

Yale Medicine is known for being among the first to offer innovative treatments for all types of orthopedic injuries, including those affecting runners. We are on the forefront of developing and utilizing effective new treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma, to stimulate healing factors.

 Another advantage of seeking treatment at Yale Medicine is that athletes work with like-minded physicians who understand that the last thing a patient wants to hear is the advice to stop taking part in activities the patient finds rewarding.

“Many of our doctors are athletes themselves—or they have had athletic careers in the past,” says Dr. Gardner, who played field hockey and captained the women’s lacrosse team while she was an undergraduate at Yale. “We want to take care of your injuries and get you back to your sport as quickly as possible. But most of all, we want to help you avoid getting injured in the first place!”