Running feels great, until it doesn't anymore. Running injuries usually happen when you push yourself too hard, wear the wrong shoes, or run with incorrect posture. Unfortunately, as runners, we all manage to overdo it from time to time. Sometimes we think we can walk it off, or take a few days of R & R. Ice will work for many injuries, along with stretches or new muscle-building exercises.

Many people keep their running regimen going by using kinesiology tape. There are several common running injuries that can benefit from the use of Kinesiology tape.

Here are three of the most common with information on how the tape is used:

    Iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome is the most common cause of outer knee pain, and it's a very common injury reported by runners. Runners can minimize the wear and tear on the IT band by running on flat ground and never running the same loop in just one direction. The initial treatment of ITB is usually ice. Kinesiology tape can also help relieve ITB pain by decreasing pain caused by compression along the outer knee. It can also be used to decrease inflammation.

    Runner's knee is a common overuse injury with several different causes, but it most commonly happens when your kneecap is out of alignment. Over time, the cartilage on your kneecap wears down, causing pain. The pain of runner's knee is most apparent when going up or down stairs, sitting with the knee bent, or squatting. Kinesiology tape can improve the symptoms of runner's knee no matter what the cause, by balancing the muscles effect on the knee. The tape can also be applied tohelp relieve pressure on the kneecap and its tendon.

    Shin splints are a painful condition that happens in the front or inside of the lower leg along the tibia (i.e. shinbone). A common condition that occurs and increasing your workout or changing it, this condition is a sign that you've pushed yourself too hard, too quickly. It happens most often to flat-footed people. Kinesiology tape can help relieve pressure and strain on the affected tissue, relax the muscles of the shin, and quiet inflammation.

Kinesiology tape is a great tool for every athlete to keep on hand in their first aid supplies. Proper taping can help prevent injury and aid in healing, without sacrificing your workout times. Although sport injuries are common, they're also a symptom of overuse or pushing too hard. Make sure that you re-assess your workout if you find yourself with one of these injuries and learn more about them for preventative measures.

- By Andrea Hamel