For many, running is more than just exercise: it’s a social outlet, a form of meditation, or a way to challenge yourself. But chronic knee pain can sideline you for longer than you’d like. The good—and maybe surprising—news is that running itself isn’t inherently bad for your knees. In fact, research has shown that runners may have healthier knee cartilage than people who are sedentary. The trick is managing the impact.

“In simple terms, your knees are usually innocent bystanders,” said Saad. The knee sits between the hip and the foot, he explained. If either of those body parts isn’t doing its job well, due to a lack of strength or mobility, poor mechanics, or not tolerating the load you’re putting on them, your knees absorb extra stress.

“We’re all humans with imperfect mechanics,” Saad continued. “It’s usually not ‘bad knees’—it’s a load management problem.”

Read the full article at outsideonline.com. 

Too much too soon can mean too much mileage, but it can also mean too much intensity—pushing your speed before you’re ready for that added challenge—or doing both at the same time.

Your cardiovascular system adapts to stress a lot quicker than muscles and tendons, Saad shared. “Think about where the majority of injuries are. They tend to be either tendon injuries, ligament injuries, or bone injuries,” he said. “The reason is because those structures adapt a little bit slower. So someone who is cardiovascularly fit might think they can run five miles, but maybe their ligaments and bones aren’t used to that, so they can’t tolerate that amount of repetitive stress, and they get injured.”

Read the full article at runnersworld.com. A subscription is required to access. 

According to Saad, hockey players tend to be creatures of habit and each player treats their pregame preparations methodically. Most players arrive at the arena around three hours prior to puck drop to start their pre-game routine. They generally like to stick with what is familiar, regardless of whether they’re at home or on the road. For outdoor games, like the stadium series, you can expect players to approach the game similar to how they would prepare for a road game. The team’s training staff is always prepared with the necessary equipment for players to complete their pre-game workouts and treatments and the team dietician ensures they have familiar foods that will keep them fueled for the game.

Read the full article at thehockeynews.com.

You might not think much about your hands when running. But if you forget to cover them up when temps dip below 40 degrees, they can quickly become a problem. “In cold weather, your body's trying to maintain that core warmth, so a lot of the blood flow is going to your core—a little bit less to your hands,” Mohammad Saad, DPT, physical therapist at HSS.

A good pair of running gloves will give you an added layer of warmth to make up for that lack of circulation, keeping you a whole lot more comfortable and ensuring you’ll still have enough feeling in your fingers to rip open gels or stop your running watch. But there’s a wide range of options out there, from thin, knit pairs you might get at races to super-insulated mittens that can see you through arctic temps.

Read the full article at self.com.