A common cause of an 'overuse' injury is when there's a strength imbalance in the legs. Typically, we have a dominant leg, and if we don't take steps to balance out the strength in both legs, over time, an overuse injury can occur. A simple way to check for an imbalance is to do 5-10 Step Ups on each leg after a run on a park bench or in the gym. Typically, we'll have a weakness on one side of the body.

By slowly integrating one-legged Step Ups in a strategic way after your runs, overtime you balance out the leg strength and help prevent injury. In the video below, you'll see a progression of the Step Up with a knee drive. Very helpful and running-specific. Be mindful to focus on form and balance when doing the exercise, particularly on the weaker leg. 

*As the demonstrator notes, make sure to activate the glute when stepping up. Since exercise and running is so individualized, comment below or message me on how to safely implement Step Ups for you.