ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the global exercises that can be undertaken to reduce injury risk and how they can be coached. Improving the strength of a muscle or specific structure is unlikely to alter running biomechanics but may enable tissues to withstand greater volumes of loading, thereby reducing injury risk. Conditioning exercises should be prescribed with a specific adaptation in mind that considers the primary function of biological tissues that are injured or vulnerable to injury. Running drills, low-level plyometrics and mobility exercises should form an important part of a runner’s conditioning routine and can be incorporated into pre-session warm-up routines. Prevention is said to be better than cure; however, the skill and art of running and load management within a technical framework are complex. Injury prevention is the panacea, but it may be better to view injury avoidance as a ‘risk management strategy’, with athletes and coaches agreeing on a shared plan to manage the risk.
