Innovations To Nib Injuries In The Bud

Hate getting hurt? Scientists have your back! Here are the latest inventions to help you stride safely.

- Sarah Ivory

Running can have its downsides. Injury, whether minor or major, is an inevitable side-effect of being a devotee to sport; so much so that new data reveals a whopping 65 per cent of people pick up a niggle as a result of doing exercise. The worst bit? Getting hurt can be expensive. The same report, from Active Cover, a multi-sport injury insurance provider, shows that people not only take time off work for injury, but also typically pay anything from £150 to £500 for treatment! It’s a costly business, so make your pennies count by investing in the latest pain fixers to stop running injuries in their tracks.

KNEE MAPPING

Knee problems such as patella tendonitis – aka ‘runner’s knee’ – are common among runners, which is why London Bridge Hospital (londonbridgehospital.com), part of HCA UK, started offering 3D knee assessments in January. The hospital is the first UK facility to offer KneeKG, a gait-analysis programme that measures 3D knee function during treadmill walking. ‘This technology is revolutionising the way patients recover from knee injuries by analysing motion in a comprehensive manner,’ says Ian McDermott, orthopaedic specialist at the hospital. ‘It gives a clear clinical assessment, which allows us to provide patients with a tailored treatment programme that increases the chance of a speedy recovery.’

COOL THERAPY