Clinical name: Overuse (load-related) injury
Direct answer
Overuse injuries almost always come down to load exceeding what a tissue is currently prepared for — whether that’s a sudden spike in training volume or intensity, an underlying strength or biomechanical deficit, or inadequate recovery between sessions — rather than bad luck. Identifying and correcting the specific contributing factor, not just resting until it settles, is what actually stops it becoming a recurring pattern.
What this means
An “overuse injury” is cumulative micro-damage to a tissue — tendon, bone or muscle — outpacing its ability to repair itself, as opposed to a single traumatic event like a fall or collision.
Why do overuse injuries keep coming back?
Because the underlying contributing factor — a training load spike, a strength deficit, a technique or biomechanical issue — usually isn’t addressed during initial treatment. Symptoms settle with reduced activity, but the same triggers reappear once activity resumes at the same level as before.
What are the most common contributing factors?
Sudden increases in training volume, intensity or frequency (“too much, too soon”), inadequate recovery between sessions, strength or flexibility deficits, technique or biomechanical factors, worn or inappropriate footwear or equipment, and returning from a previous injury without fully rebuilding capacity.
How is this assessed?
A review of recent training history (changes in volume, intensity or frequency), a movement and strength assessment to identify deficits, and — where relevant — a biomechanical assessment, such as a running gait analysis, to find a specific technical contributor.
What tends to aggravate it, and what helps ease it?
Continuing to train through pain at the same load tends to aggravate it and can turn a manageable niggle into a more serious injury. Temporarily adjusting load — not necessarily stopping entirely — addressing the specific underlying deficit found on assessment, and gradually rebuilding capacity are what resolve it for good.
How can I prevent it happening again?
A gradual, planned approach to increasing training load rather than sudden jumps, ongoing strength work targeting any deficits identified, and keeping an eye on your own load and recovery — especially around season changes — all reduce the risk of it recurring.
Who’s behind this advice
Reviewed by: Core Healthcare Bundall 2026
Clinic services: Sports Injuries & Performance, running biomechanics assessment, strength & conditioning
Related reading
• How to structure an off-season training program for your sport
• What’s the best warm-up and cooldown routine to prevent injury and improve performance?
• Why Am I Not Recovering Between Training Sessions? Signs You’re Under-Recovering (Not Undertraining)
Next step
Whether you’re chasing a personal best, coming back from a niggle, or just trying to stay in the game as you get older, waiting until something becomes a full injury rarely gives the best outcome. A tailored assessment identifies exactly what’s holding your performance back or putting you at risk, and gets you started on a plan built around your sport and your goals.
Book an assessment with a sports physiotherapist or exercise physiologist at your nearest Core Healthcare clinic across Brisbane, Logan, the Gold Coast and Tugun, or ask your physio about this at your next session.