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Using the Risk Factor Checklist to Determine Cause of Injury By Dr. Lyle J. Micheli

Sports doctors use a checklist of risk factors to determine how runners become injured. Runners can use the same checklist.

"Did I recently increase the frequency, duration, or intensity of my running regimen by more than 10 percent?" If the answer is yes, the underlying cause of your overuse injury may be training error.
"Is running the only exercise I do?" "Are some of my muscles naturally not as strong or flexible as adjoining ones?" If the answer is yes, the underlying cause of your overuse running injury may be imbalances in muscle strength and flexibility.
"Do I have flat feet, high arches, bow legs, knock knees, thighs that turn inward from the hip, or one leg longer than the other?" If the answer is yes, the underlying cause of your overuse running injury may be an anatomical abnormality.
"Are my running shoes old or worn-out?" "Did I recently start using new running shoes?" If the answer is yes, the underlying cause of your overuse running injury may be improper footwear.
"Did I neglect to structure my run to include limbering-up, stretching, a warm-up, a cool-down, and a cool-down stretch?" If the answer is yes, the underlying cause of your overuse running injury may be an inappropriate workout structure.
"Did I not fully rehabilitate a previous running injury?" If the answer is yes, the underlying cause of your overuse running injury may be previous injury.
"Do I fail to engage in a strength and flexibility program related to my running program?" If the answer is yes, the underlying cause of your overuse running injury may be poor conditioning.
"Do I have an unusual running style?" If the answer is yes, the underlying cause of your injury may be improper running technique.
"Do I run frequently, but menstruate irregularly or not at all?: If women answer yes, the underlying cause of your overuse running injury may be nutritional abuse.

Excerpted from Healthy Runner's Handbook, 1996, by Dr. Lyle J. Micheli.

Additional excerpts from Healthy Runner's Handbook--#2 and #3.