388 | Best Exercises to Prevent Running Injury and Pain

In this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast, Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, both doctors of physical therapy, dive deep into running injury, pain, and running training strategies for runners. They highlight the importance of foot strength—especially with tools like Vivo Barefoot shoes—and share top running tips that can help reduce your risk of running injury and pain. The episode reviews a key study showing that hip and core strength training offers greater health optimization for running injury prevention than just focusing on the foot and ankle. Their discussion emphasizes a holistic approach that includes cross-training, core awareness, and professional guidance. If you’re looking to optimize your running training, minimize pain, and achieve true health optimization, this episode is packed with practical advice and top running tips for a safer, more effective routine. VivoBarefoot Discount:Support your feet and ankles with VivoBarefoot shoes—with perfect styles for any occasion! Boost foot health through mobility and strength from the ground up. Use code OPTIMAL20 for 20% off. 100-day trial included—return if you’re not satisfied! Free Week + Holiday Discount on the Jen Health Membership:Time to start the New Year out right! Get a free week of Jen Health Membership! Access 12 plans crafted by Doc Jen, PT. We’ll match you with the best plan for your goals. Check it out today and use code OPTIMAL for a discount on your first month! We think you’ll love:Get A Free Week on Jen Health!Jen’s InstagramDom’s InstagramYouTube Channel See the full Show Notes and Resources here: https://jen.health/podcast/388 What You'll Learn in This Episode: 2:00 Importance of Injury Prevention 3:00 Running Injury Statistics 4:10 Explanation of the top down (hip and core) versus bottom up (foot and ankle) approaches in injury prevention.5:40 Study Overview: Hip and Core vs. Foot and Ankle 7:30 Complexity of Injury Prevention 9:20 Results showing the hip and core program significantly reduced injury rates compared to foot/ankle and control groups.11:40 Need for a Comprehensive Plan 14:00 Cross-Training Benefits 15:30 Plyometrics and Running 16:17 Postpartum Running Considerations17:34 Supervised Sessions in Injury Prevention Study  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.