My Whole Body Aches From Running

Running engages multiple muscle groups as well as tendons and ligaments. The impact of running also can cause aches and pains in bones and joints in the feet and legs. General soreness can be expected for runners who accumulate high mileage on a week-to-week basis. New runners also will feel aches as their bodies become acclimated to the activity.

General Aches

New runners are especially susceptible to aches all over, as muscle fibers strain under the stress of the exercise. Surface membranes of the muscles tear, leading to inflammation. This pain can affect the legs of new runners and advanced runners who undertake harder workouts than they are accustomed to in their regimens. Long runs also can lead to back, neck and shoulder soreness, as fatigue sets into the muscles or poor running posture causes pain in these areas.

Injuries

Running places a lot of stress on bodies. Injuries can result from overtraining or improper form. Ligaments and tendon strains occur in the legs, feet and hips that can cause body aches. When runners continue to train while suffering from a strain or sprain, proper form can be sacrificed, which leads to further injuries and aches.

Sore vs. Hurt

A certain amount of soreness is normal in running, but it’s important to recognize the difference between typical muscle and joint aches and injury. Runners – especially those new to the sport – will experience delayed-onset muscle soreness, usually within 12 to 48 hours after a run. Such soreness might be especially noticeable in the thighs, and should feel better within a day or two. Mild but tolerable soreness that occurs during the run but clears up shortly after you stop running also is normal. Pain that occurs during or shortly after you have finished running but does not go away quickly could be a sign of injury, especially if the pain is specific to joints, the feet or shins. If the pain gets worse or keeps you from running the way you normally do, it could be an injury. You can run when you are just sore, but you should cease running and see a doctor if you suspect injury.

Considerations

The proper form and posture is crucial to prevent injuries and pain in runners. Athletes also should take adequate recovery time between workouts and be wary of overuse injuries from overtraining. New runners should ease into the sport and not try to undertake too much mileage too soon. Follow a training plan that adds on miles to your runs at a measured rate.