Why Your Child's Running Injuries Keep Coming Back (And How to Stop the Cycle)
Mick Breen
October 16, 2025
If your child keeps getting the same injuries - ankle sprains, shin splints, knee pain, hamstring strains - you're not alone, and you're not imagining it.
As a parent, you've probably:
- Spent hundreds (or thousands) on physio appointments
- Watched your child sit on the sidelines game after game
- Felt helpless as the same injury keeps coming back
- Wondered if your child is just "injury-prone"
Here's what I've learned after years of coaching young athletes ages 8-16 in Melbourne: recurring injuries in kids aren't bad luck. They're a symptom that no one taught proper movement patterns when it mattered most.
My Story: From Injured Athlete to Youth Injury Prevention Specialist
This is deeply personal for me.
As a young athlete, I was constantly sidelined — hamstrings, knees, lower back — you name it. Every time I thought I was back, something else would flare up. The frustration wasn’t just the pain; it was the lost time, the missed games, and feeling like my body kept betraying me when all I wanted was to perform.
I don't want your child to experience what I did. That's why I built Play Stronger specifically for young athletes stuck in the injury cycle - to address the root causes that physio alone can't fix.
Let's talk about why your child's injuries keep returning, and more importantly, how to stop it.
They stretch. They foam roll. They wear the “right” shoes.
But the pain keeps coming back.
If they struggle with shin splints, plantar fasciitis, calf strains, knee pain—or just tightness that never really goes away—this post is for them.
Because it’s time we stop looking at running injuries as bad luck or overtraining. And start seeing them for what they really are: a sign your body is out of sync.
Most Running Injuries Aren’t “Bad Luck”—They’re Bad Movement
Running is simple. But it’s not easy.
It’s repetitive, high-impact, and deeply affected by your posture, mechanics, and strength. When your body doesn’t move well, every step becomes a micro trauma.
The most common injuries we see at Natural Born Running and Melbourne Soft Tissue Therapy aren’t caused by doing too much. They’re caused by doing the same poor movement patterns over and over again.
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💔 The Hidden Cost of Recurring Injuries
As a parent, watching your child struggle with injuries isn't just about lost playing time.
It's about:
- Their confidence eroding with each setback
- The fear in their eyes before games
- Spending family time at physio instead of playing
- Watching their love of sport slowly disappear
- Wondering if they'll quit altogether
You didn't sign up to be a sports parent to watch your child suffer.
The good news? With proper movement education, most recurring injuries in young athletes are 100% preventable.
You can't change the past. But you can change their future.
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Why Young Athletes Are Especially Vulnerable
Growing bodies are amazing - they're adaptable, resilient, and capable of incredible athletic feats. But they're also more vulnerable to injury patterns that adults don't face:
1. Growth Spurts Create Imbalances
Between ages 8-16, your child goes through multiple growth spurts. Bones grow faster than muscles and tendons can adapt, creating temporary imbalances and tightness.
The problem: Coaches and parents often don't adjust training during these periods, leading to overuse injuries.
2. They're Learning Movement Patterns NOW
Whatever movement patterns your child develops between ages 8-16 become PERMANENT. If they learn inefficient running form now, they'll carry it (and the injury risk) for life.
The problem: Most youth athletes never receive formal running technique instruction.
3. Multi-Sport Demands Without Recovery
Your child might play football, basketball, and athletics - all in the same week. Each sport creates different stress patterns on their developing body.
The problem: No one teaches young athletes how to manage load across multiple sports.
4. "No Pain, No Gain" Mentality
Young athletes are eager to please coaches, parents, and teammates. They often push through pain they should be resting.
The problem: Minor issues become major injuries because early warning signs are ignored.
The Root Cause: Movement Pattern Dysfunction
Here's the truth most parents never hear:
Recurring injuries aren't caused by weak muscles, tight hamstrings, or bad shoes.
They're caused by faulty movement patterns that create stress on joints, tendons, and tissues that weren't designed to handle it.
What Happens:
1. Your child develops inefficient running form (usually around ages 8-10)
2. Their body compensates to maintain performance
3. Compensation creates stress on specific areas (ankle, knee, hip, etc.)
4. That area gets injured
5. They rest, do physio, strengthen muscles
6. They return to sport with THE SAME movement pattern
7. The injury comes back
This is why physio alone doesn't fix recurring injuries.
Physio treats the symptom (the injured tissue). But if you don't fix the movement pattern causing the stress, the injury cycle continues.
The Solution: Address Root Causes
This is why we created Play Stronger for young athletes ages 12-16. It doesn't just strengthen muscles - it fixes the movement patterns creating injury risk in the first place.
[Learn more about Play Stronger →]
It All Starts with the Feet (Yes, Really)
Most runners ignore their feet—until something goes wrong.
Modern shoes are designed to protect, cushion, and support. But in doing so, they also:
Weaken your foot muscles
Decrease sensory feedback
Limit your natural spring system
Over time, you lose your ability to:
Load through the big toe
Stabilize your ankle
Absorb shock through the arch
This sets off a chain reaction of compensation up the leg and into the hips, spine, and posture.
Your Body Isn’t Failing—It’s Adapting
Your body adapts to what you do most often.
Sit all day? You’ll get tight hips and weak glutes.
Run with overstriding and heel striking? You’ll overload your knees and calves.
Ignore pain and keep pushing? Your nervous system will tighten things up to protect you.
The key isn’t to fight your body. It’s to teach it how to move better.
Teaching proper running technique before injuries develop is exactly what Play Easier (ages 8-12) does - building strong movement foundations from the start. [Learn more about Play Easier →]
How We Break the Injury Cycle (and You Can Too)
At Natural Born Running, we follow a simple principle:
Don’t treat symptoms. Rebuild the system.
1. Restore Function at the Foundation (Feet + Ankles)
Our Stride Strong program focuses the first week entirely on foot strength, ankle mobility, and restoring sensory awareness through the lower limb. Most runners have never trained this before—and it changes everything.
2. Repattern Your Movement
Running is a skill. And like any skill, it can be re-learned. We work on posture, cadence, footstrike, and elasticity—so your body works with you, not against you.
3. Build Strength in the Right Places
No more endless glute bridges. We focus on the posterior chain, single-leg control, and tendon health—because strong tissue = resilient movement.
4. Use Myotherapy to Unwind the Compensation
Tight hips? Jammed up ankles? Stiff lower back? That’s your body guarding. Through targeted soft tissue therapy, we release the tension and give your system permission to move again.
For athletes already stuck in the injury cycle, our Play Stronger program addresses root causes with age-appropriate strength and movement training. [View Play Stronger →]
Why Shoes Can’t Fix a Movement Problem
We get asked all the time: “What shoes should I run in?”
And while gear matters, shoes aren’t a solution. They’re just a tool.
If you’ve been relying on arch support, thick midsoles, or aggressive pronation control—there’s a good chance you’ve lost the natural strength and coordination your feet need to do their job.
We believe in strengthening the foot, not strapping it into a brace.
Not sure if your child needs running technique coaching? Read: [5 Signs Your Child Needs Running Technique Coaching →]
What to Do If You’re Stuck
If your body keeps giving you pain signals, here’s your next move:
✅ Step 1: Rebuild Your Foundation
Join the Stride Strong program and rebuild your foot, ankle, and leg strength in just 28 days.
✅ Step 2: Get Your Running Technique Assessed
If you’ve never learned to run efficiently, this is your game-changer. We’ll help you fix your posture, cadence, and timing.
✅ Step 3: Book a Myotherapy Session
Our clinic in Ivanhoe specialises in helping runners and active humans get out of the pain cycle—for good.
For a complete guide to choosing the right youth running coach in Melbourne, read: [Youth Running Coach Melbourne: Complete Guide for Parents →]
Your Kid Was Born to Run—Let’s Prove It
What You Can Do Right Now (Parent Action Plan)
If your child is stuck in the injury cycle, here's your step-by-step plan:
Step 1: Stop Blaming "Bad Luck"
Their injuries aren't random. There's a pattern, and there's a cause.
Step 2: Assess Their Movement Patterns
Watch your child run. Record video from the side and front. Look for:
- Overstriding (foot landing far in front of body)
- Excessive heel striking
- Arms crossing midline
- Hip dropping or excessive rotation
- Asymmetry (one side different from other)
Step 3: Address Root Causes, Not Just Symptoms
Yes, continue with physio for acute injuries. But also:
- Fix running technique
- Build proper strength patterns
- Teach load management
- Develop body awareness
Step 4: Implement Proper Training
Young athletes need:
- Age-appropriate progressions
- Adequate recovery time
- Cross-training variety
- Injury prevention protocols
This is exactly what Play Stronger provides - a complete system addressing all four areas.
Step 5: Be Patient
Fixing movement patterns takes 6-12 weeks. Your child didn't develop poor mechanics overnight, and they won't fix them overnight either.
But once fixed, they stay fixed. And the injury cycle ends.
Running shouldn’t hurt. Your feet weren’t designed to fail. Your body isn’t broken—it’s just been moving in a way that doesn’t serve it.
🚨 Warning Signs Your Child Needs Help NOW
Seek professional guidance if your child:
- Has had the same injury 2+ times in one season
- Complains of chronic aches, pain, or tightness
- Avoids certain movements or activities
- Performance declining despite training
- Compensating or moving differently than usual
- Spending more time with physio than on the field
These are red flags that movement patterns need correction.
Early intervention prevents major injuries down the road.
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Break the Injury Cycle: Play Stronger
Play Stronger (Ages 12-16) - $399
Designed specifically for young athletes dealing with recurring injuries.
What's Included:
✓ 7-week injury prevention program
✓ Movement pattern assessment & correction
✓ Core stability training
✓ Hip and glute strengthening
✓ Tendon conditioning protocols
✓ Recovery strategies
✓ Parent coaching guides
✓ Direct coaching support
Perfect for athletes who:
- Keep getting the same injuries
- Have chronic pain or tightness
- Want to prevent future injuries
- Need long-term resilience
- Are cleared by physio but still don't feel confident
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Prevention Is Better Than Treatment
Play Easier (Ages 8-12) - $199
Build proper movement foundations before injuries develop.
Play Faster (Ages 10-16) - $299
Speed development with injury prevention built-in.
Complete Bundle - $599 (Save $298)
All three programs for comprehensive development.
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Melbourne Locals: 1-on-1 Assessment
If your child has complex injury history, consider [booking an in-person assessment session →] for detailed movement analysis and personalized guidance.
From $150/session | Packages available
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More Resources
📚 Complete Guide: [Youth Running Coach Melbourne - Everything Parents Need to Know →]
🎯 Assessment: [5 Signs Your Child Needs Running Technique Coaching →]
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