How does stress and sleep affect my risk of injury and illness? By Marathon Physio Lucy Macdonald

Does sleep affect my risk of injury and illness?

If you don’t sleep or rest enough your immune system is not able to recover, and you therefore predispose yourself to injury and illness.

Does stress affect my risk of injury and illness?

Stress also hammers the immune system, so stress management needs to be part of your marathon training plan.

What should I do if I feel stressed or fatigued?

Please make sure you get in touch with Lucy and her team if you are stressed, feel fatigued or are struggling to sleep properly.

What breathing exercises can I do to help?

In the meantime you can start with some breathing exercises which you can access for free at octopusclinic.com and can be an excellent starting point:

• Breathing exercise lying on your back, video 78
• Breathing exercise lying on your side, video 80
• Breathing exercise on your back with arms

More marathon physio advice 

Follow @octopusclinic on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and/or Lucy Macdonald on YouTube to access our latest free videos on marathon training and injury prevention. If you would like our marathon handbook and are running for charity please contact Lucy Macdonald directly on lucymacdonaldphysio@hotmail.co.uk or if you would like to get the video course Your Marathon: Your Physio please click on the link.