7. ITB syndrome

Description: Pain along the outside of the knee, becoming progressively worse the further you run. The injury is caused by a tight iliotibial band (ITB), which is a band of tissue that runs down the outside of the thigh from the hip to the outside of the knee. If your ITB is tight, it can rub against the bottom of the thigh bone, causing pain.

Treatment: Rest and ice to reduce inflammation, together with sports therapy and remedial flexibility exercises to stretch the area.

Training and racing: This injury can take some time to heal because the ITB is a very inflexible tissue. So, it is advisable to abstain from running until you are pain free – otherwise the condition may become chronic.