Running and trail running build endurance and bring a lot of joy, but a pain in one spot on a bone, a scorching midday sun or drinking too much at an aid station can also put you out for the whole race season. This series is led by Dr. Dinh Ngoc Duc (MD, MSc in Traditional Medicine). It goes from the warning signs that mean you should stop running, through preparing for a race, eating and drinking on race day and the most common injuries, to recovery and what traditional medicine and Applied Kinesiology can do to help.
Pain in one spot on a bone
that keeps getting worse and hurts even at rest: stop running and see a doctor
Confusion while running
call 115 (Vietnam’s emergency number); if the runner feels burning hot, start cooling them right away
Our clinic supports you
with an examination while you move, a check of the supplements you take, and herbal medicine matched to your body
Part A · Getting started and staying safe
Part B · Before the race
- 04Running 04 – The 10% rule and old injuries: increasing load safely
- 05Running 05 – Shoes can’t replace training: hip strength and running shoes
- 06Running 06 – From road to trail: the downhills are the hard part
- 07Running 07 – Middle age and your first marathon: a heart check before you register
- 08Running 08 – Infrequent periods from heavy running: not a sign of good training
- 09Running 09 – Running again after birth: pelvic floor and scar before distance
Part C · Race day
- 10Running 10 – Eating on long runs: train your gut like your legs
- 11Running 11 – Salt tablets on long runs: why they don’t prevent hyponatremia
- 12Running 12 – Coffee and beetroot: two with data, the rest not suited to long runs
- 13Running 13 – Painkillers and lotus heart tea: kidneys and doping before a race
Part D · Common injuries
- 14Running 14 – Knee pain rooted in the hip: pain around the kneecap when running
- 15Running 15 – Pain on the outside of the knee: foam rolling is not the answer
- 16Running 16 – The heel and Achilles tendon: tendons need load, not complete rest
- 17Running 17 – Shin pain when running: two sides of the lower leg, two muscles
- 18Running 18 – Ankle sprains on the trail: sprain it once, and the ankle remembers
- 19Running 19 – Cramps while running: not necessarily from lack of salt
Part E · After the race and recovery
Part F · Traditional medicine and Applied Kinesiology
How our clinic can support runners
- Checking early for signs that call for imaging or a referral to a specialist;
- Pain that keeps coming back even though your scans are normal: an Applied Kinesiology examination while you walk, run and jump, right here at the clinic;
- Checking minerals and the supplements you are taking, alongside lab tests when needed;
- Tiredness that lasts after the race season, heavy sweating, cramps that keep returning: a herbal decoction prescribed just for you, based on your body’s condition;
- Runners who compete in races with doping tests: tell us in advance so the doctor can choose a suitable herbal formula.
The information in this series is for reference only and does not replace an examination. Every runner has a different body and training schedule – the doctor will examine you and give advice for your own situation.