Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of drugs that are used commonly to reduce pain and swelling. The most recognisable of these are ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac. 　　Ibuprofen and naproxen are everyday painkillers that can be purchased over the counter in any pharmacy. They can dampen down and help to alleviate the symptoms experienced during short-term bouts of pain,...

　　We've surely all experienced this during our exercising journey – the dreaded jogger's nipple. Thankfully, there are myriad ways to treat it and also, more importantly, prevent it. James Witts provides everything you need to know about this run-ruining condition… 　　What is jogger’s nipple? 　　Jogger’s nipple is the polite way to describe your nipples becoming sensitive and chafing after a...

　　So you've signed up to your first Ironman race – or you're at least thinking about it – and are now starting to think about training. But with the majority of an iron-distance race taking place on the bike – 180km to be precise – just how much training should you dedicate to the middle discipline? Okay, let's break it...

　　We all know how incredible the muscles in our body are and what they can allow us to do, but they can also be used to aid injury recovery. Here we look at how… 　　How can muscle contractions help us recover from injury? 　　Muscles are attached onto our bones by tendons, working together in pairs in a cyclical way. While...

　　Broadly speaking, the main leg muscles used in triathlons are the gluteals (bum), quadriceps (front of the thigh), hamstrings (back of the thigh) and calf (lower leg). 　　The gluteals are used to extend your hip when running and walking. The quadriceps are a group of powerful muscles that extend the knee and help to flex the hip. The hamstrings extend...

　　Swim regularly but got a wound and wondering if it’s safe to continue swimming? Here, doctor and Swim England clinical advisor Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi shares the answers and explains how to waterproof a wound for swimming. 　　Swimming is a great way to stay active and enjoy the water but it’s essential to take proper precautions when you have a wound...

　　It’s a common question: ‘Will walking on a torn meniscus make it worse?’ Well, it may be cliche, but this will vary from case to case, as not all meniscus tears are equal. 　　Here, Six Physio's Ollie Errser delves into the detail. But first, let's first look at what the meniscus is and how it can be torn. 　　What is...

　　Numbers and records define Challenge Roth. Thousands of triathletes take part every year and it sells out in minutes. Everyone, including the very best in the world, wants to race there and it's famous as a place where records are broken, and legends and memories are made. 　　Who can forget Jan Frodeno’s 2016 iron-distance record-breaking time of 7:35:39? And before...

　　Shin splints and stress fractures are common injuries among athletes, especially endurance athletes. But how do you know which one you're suffering with? Here we explain the differences between the two, plus how to prevent and treat them. 　　Shin splints vs stress fractures: what's the difference? 　　A shin splint or medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is an inflammation of the...

　　The diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis can be alarming for active people. Osteoarthritis is a term that tends to elicit fear and concern, as our association with the term overall tends to be a negative one. 　　We all know of someone (often elderly) who experiences pain and resultant functional constraints due to joint osteoarthritis (knee or hip). 　　However the diagnosis of...

　　Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), also known as lateral hip pain or trochanteric bursitis, is a common and painful condition which affects the outer side of the hip and thigh. It occurs when the tissues which lie over the outside of the hip bone (greater trochanter) become irritated. 　　The soft tissues that attach to the outside of the hip include...

　　The days are slowly getting longer and we're on our way into the business end of the season for triathlons. 　　This means lots of you would have started increasing your training to get ready for some of the first outdoor races in the UK. As training picks up, we commonly start to see more injuries such as: 　　Muscle strains 　　ITB...