Runner's Anatomy

You don't really need a medical degree to reach your peak performance as a runner, but it will help if you have a basic understanding of the important parts of your running anatomy. Running is all about creating the fastest, most powerful and effiicient forward motion possible. Without the energy of your muscles that movement would be impossible.

There are over 600 muscles in your body. Knowing the names and duties of each of those muscles would be helpful to you in understanding your body and how it works. Do you really need to memorize 600 muscles to reach your peak performance as a runner? Heck no! The truth is that most medical professionals would be hard pressed to rattle off the descriptions of 600 muscles without peeking at their anatomy books.

Even though you don’t need to know all those muscles, it will be helpful if you understand the duties and responsibilities of the primary running muscles in your legs and the basics of running anatomy. Here is some information on runners anatomy, the most used running muscles and what they do.

• Primary Runners Hip Muscles
  Running muscles that act on your hip
• Primary Runner's Knee Muscles
  Muscles that control your knee joint
• Runner's Ankle and Foot Muscles
  The most important muscles that act on your ankle and foot
• Anatomical Directions for Runners - Which Way is Which ?
  Learn these anatomical terms and understand the most complicated exercise routine
• Runner's Movements, Motions, Planes and Axes
  The movements your body makes and the anatomical planes it moves in