Elizabeth Karr PT, DPT

Here in Atlanta, temps have been rising since the end of March, and you may have noticed that some of your runs have felt more challenging despite no change in terrain or pace. You're not imagining things! Temperatures over 77 degrees Fahrenheit negatively impacts performance for running distances over 800m. Heat acclimation is the process where, by exercising in the heat repeatedly, your body makes adaptations to improve tolerance to activity in hotter temps which can improve safety and...

When leg pain appears, many runners focus on muscle strains or joint issues, but neural tension can often be a hidden cause or contributor to discomfort. Recognizing neural tension and addressing it properly can make a significant difference in recovery and performance. What Is Neural Tension? Neural tension refers to the abnormal tightness or irritation of nerves as they move through the body. Nerves are not just passive wires, they glide and stretch with movement. When nerves become...

For runners who are aware of cadence, many have heard of this allegedly "magical" cadence of 180 steps per minute. If your cadence isn't 180, should you try to change it? Let's break it down by explaining what cadence is, where this mythical 180 number came from, if and when you should change your cadence, and how to do it. What is cadence? In running, cadence is the number steps that you take each minute. If you wear a running watch, it likely has this data logged somewhere, and if it...