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There is an 11 year old kid on the football team that I coach that has a slip from his doctor that states that he is unable to run laps. He is permitted to do everything else, and can even run as many sprints as we want. I am very uncomfortable with these instructions. I can run the kid 6 x 100 yard sprints, but I can't have him run a 400 yard lap? What happens to me when he drops on the 5th 100 yard sprint? My philosophy as a coach has always been your are physically able to do 100% or you don't participate. I understand that if a kid has a sprained wrist he can run but he can't do push-ups. However, I want him released 100%. I'm not going to have him reinjure something and me be held responsible. The doctor needs to release him to do everything at practice. Has anybody heard of such a medical condition?

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Perhaps you could talk to the parent and find out what the condition is. – michael Sep 16 '11 at 19:27
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Sounds like the same condition as Derek Zoolander - he can't turn left. – JoJo Sep 17 '11 at 23:40
great question ! – Joe Blow Sep 18 '11 at 20:26
Sounds like a dupe to me, but then I'm not a doctor. – baldy Sep 19 '11 at 12:39
I know of no condition, but I am aware of the different types of conditioning involved. It would be odd to get the doctor in on this though. See: startingstrength.com/articles/death_by_prowler_reynolds.pdf – Berin Loritsch Sep 19 '11 at 13:07

1 Answer

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You can generate hip problems from running in circles excessively. Many runners have leg-length issues, and many times it is the left leg that is 1/4" - 1/2" shorter than the right. If you constantly turn/pivot one the left this happens. This is usually a result of the pelvis becoming rotated over time, though knee cartilage can compress as well. I've been running on a track since I was 14 and my legs are different lengths as a result, though most of my issues are from a rotated pelvis - which according to my chiropractor is not rare among runners.

I've seen many coaches instruct runners to run some workouts in the opposite direction on a track to prevent injury. Stress fractures in the lower leg are possible as well from constant turns in one direction.

If the kid already has a bad leg length issues or hip rotation issues this could be a cause. However this is speculation...

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Sounds like pretty good speculation to me. I did a search, and shin splints are also caused by "too much running in circles, which puts too much stress on the inner leg". – John C Sep 28 '11 at 22:41
Quite a plausible answer. Of course it would have been much more useful for the doctor to explain that in the note. – Robin Ashe Jun 26 '12 at 8:40

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