Anatomy for Runners: Unlocking Your Athletic Potential for Health, Speed, and Injury Prevention

by Jay Dicharry

Overview

Tired of getting the same treatments from doctors that didn’t heal his joint and muscle pain from running, Jay Dicharry decided to combine different fields of clinical care, biomechanical analysis, and coaching to help you avoid common injuries and become the best runner you can be.

Running has become more and more popular in recent years, with thousands of people entering marathons, buying new running shoes with the latest technology, and going for a daily jog, whether on the track or on a treadmill. Unfortunately, with running comes injuries, as a result of wrong information and improper training.

Along with clear and thorough explanations of how running influences the body, and how the body influences your running, this book answers many of the common questions that athletes have:

• Do runners need to stretch?
• What is the best way to run?
• What causes injuries?
• Which shoes are best for running?
• Is running barefoot beneficial?
• And much more

The mobility and stability tests will assess your form, and the corrective exercises, along with step-by-step photos, will improve your core and overall performance, so that you can train and run with confidence, knowing how to avoid injuries!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620871591
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	08/01/2012
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	302,395
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Jay Dicharry

, MPT, SCS, is the Director of the SPEED Clinic and the Motion Analysis Lab at the University of Virginia. Originally from New
Orleans, Jay received his Masters of Physical Therapy degree at Louisiana State
University Medical Center. He is an instructor in the Sports Medicine program and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency at the University of
Virginia. Jay is a Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist, and a certified coach through both the United States Track and Field Association and the United
States Cycling Federation. He is widely published in numerous professional journals on running gait and biomechanics, lectures nationally to clinicians and coaches on care of endurance athletes, conducts research on runners, and consults to individual, USA Track and Field and the US Air Force on athlete development. Jay has a competitive history in swimming, triathlon, cycling, and running events on both the local and national level, and has coached athletes from local standouts to national medalists. His passion is combining his personal, clinical, and research focus to help athletes achieve their full potential.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Chapter 1 Run Like an Athlete 1

Chapter 2 Baby Biomechanics-The Physics of Running 9

Chapter 3 Microanatomy-What Are You Made of? 27

Chapter 4 Beyond the Mileage Log-There's More to It Than Running Hard Runs and Long Runs 53

Chapter 5 Soft Tissue Mobility-Did Gumby Have It Right? 63

Chapter 6 Dynamic Neuromuscular Strength-Make a smarter, Stronger Spring 83

Chapter 7 The Footwear Wrecking Ball is Swinging Back Hard, Folks-Don't Let It Smack You in the Head! 113

Chapter 8 Essentials of Running Gait-The Human Slingshot 143

Chapter 9 Assessment and Development of the Athlete Within-Redefining the Body You've Come to Know and Love 181

Chapter 10 Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again-Corrective Exercises 211

Conclusion 287

Appendix A Gait Vocabulary 289

Appendix B Strengthening References 291

Appendix C Shoe References 293

Appendix D Gait References 303

What People are Saying About This

Dr. Mark Cucuzzella

Running is a simple sport, right? But why does almost everyone get hurt? As Jay discovers in this valuable guide, the reason is an amazingly complex mix of anatomy,
strength, forces, vectors, and footwear effects. Alas, after reading this book and feeling what running really is, you will rediscover and understand its simplicity . . . then you can throw the rest of the library away.

Mark Cucuzzella

Running is a simple sport, right? But why does almost everyone get hurt? As Jay discovers in this valuable guide, the reason is an amazingly complex mix of anatomy,
strength, forces, vectors, and footwear effects. Alas, after reading this book and feeling what running really is, you will rediscover and understand its simplicity . . . then you can throw the rest of the library away.

Jason Vigilante

The biggest challenge running coaches encounter is discovering the balance between maximizing workload while holding off injuries.
Jay Dicharry presents years of knowledge and useful practical information in a format that's understandable. I am certain Anatomy for Runners is spot on because Jay has helped several of my athletes both remain healthy as well as get back to championship form.

Editorial Reviews

Running is a simple sport, right? But why does almost everyone get hurt? As Jay discovers in this valuable guide, the reason is an amazingly complex mix of anatomy,
strength, forces, vectors, and footwear effects. Alas, after reading this book and feeling what running really is, you will rediscover and understand its simplicity . . . then you can throw the rest of the library away.

Dr. Mark Cucuzzella

This is the best resource on running biomechanics and injury prevention. The corrective exercises have become part of my training routine, improved my performance, and reduced my injuries.

Alan Webb

The biggest challenge running coaches encounter is discovering the balance between maximizing workload while holding off injuries.
Jay Dicharry presents years of knowledge and useful practical information in a format that's understandable. I am certain Anatomy for Runners is spot on because Jay has helped several of my athletes both remain healthy as well as get back to championship form.

Jason Vigilante