This is my first blog on the Running Injury Oracle site, and we’re only a week or two from launching the site!
I thought i would just give a little bit of background to how the site was conceived, for anyone that might be interested.
Three years ago, i was travelling to Denmark to run the Copenhagen Marathon. On the flight I sat next to a man who happened to be running too. We chatted about many things, not just about running, but one thing he said to me stuck in my mind that day.
He had been plagued with an achilles problem for the last two months of his training. The first thing he did was to search for a solution on the internet. He told me that there was lots of advice given on various websites, but three things troubled him: One, he didn’t know whether he could trust the advice he was being given: Two, most of the sites said the same two things – ice, and stretch – things that he was already doing: Three, the drawings that showed the stretches were often confusing, and so how did he know that he was doing them right and not doing himself damage?
So I got thinking and thought, why not design a website that gave you a better idea of what you were suffering from, then took you through how to rehabilitate from that condition with lots of useful information, and most importantly showed you how to perform the relevant exercises using the most useful modern resource we have – video clips!
So the site was born, and it has taken 3 years to get to a point where i think we have a site that gives clear information. Once it’s up and running, and people are using it, i hope that runners will comment on how i can improve the site, to make it as user friendly and useful as possible.
There are over 70 running injuries covered, and over 160 videos showing everything from stretches, strengthening exercises, cold and hot therapy, sports taping and strapping techniques, self massage techniques, to mobilisation techniques. Some of the advice I have developed over my few years of treating runners, so it is not available anywhere else.
I have kept the price as low as i can. For 3 months access to the advice part of the site it is £19.95 (UK pounds), and for a year it is only £29.95. This is less than half the price of one treatment with an osteopath or sports therapist.
Anyway, please do have a look at the site, and let me know what you think.
Thanks!
Generally pretty easy to follow the links. The only minor problem I had was to find where the video you mention in a text was located below. Maybe that is me – maybe others will also find it slightly awkward.
Thanks for the feedback. I’ve tried to place a link in the text where i can, but there are some that i have probably missed out. I’ll do a good scan of this when i can and hopefully clear that up. cheers
Looked into website from newsletter info … I think it is really well presented and links logically through the diagnosis and treatment steps. The pricing you propose seems reasonable (I’m currently on my 3 day trial), but interestingly I only noticed the approx £20 price not the approx £30 price which offers better value, and also it can be difficult to predict injury and recovery times…
Have heard some people ‘raving’ about supplements containing glucosamine as being very effective in joint recovery. I haven’t encountered reference to these on your site – do you have a view on glucosamine and supplements in general ?
Dear Patricia,
so sorry it has taken a full 10 days to reply to your comment. Thank you for your feedback, I’m glad you like the site. It’s true that it is very difficult to know how long rehabilitation will take, it is different of course for each individual. I will try to make the years subscription a bit more obvious.
Gavin
I have not really seen a great deal of research showing that supplements like glucosamine sulphate help joint recovery. I have not included it mainly because it is not my area of expertise, but I am slightly cynical about it. There are a over 150 joints in the body. There is lets say 1000mg of glucosamine in a pill. That means that each joint in the body might get at most 6-7 mg of glucosamine, although probably not anywhere near that amount because of the body not absorbing all the pill. I fail to see how such a small amount can have any effect whatsoever on a joint such as the knee, on which even 5-6 mg would be like a grain of sand on a beach. But that’s just my opinion! I am generally in favour of supplements in general, such as multivitamin and mineral supplements, since as runners we do use up a lot of these important substances, and may not get enough in our food to replace what we lose. Especially during training.
Gavin
I am thoroughly impressed with your website. well done.
Dear Zac,
Thanks so much for your thumbs up, i really appreciate it!
Gavin