A prospective study of running injuries: the Vancouver Sun Run “In Training” clinics

Abstract

Objectives: Seventeen running training clinics were investigated to determine the number of injuries that occur in a running programme designed to minimise the injury rate for athletes training for a 10 km race. The relative contributions of factors associated with injury were also reported. Methods: A total of 844 primarily recreational runners were surveyed in three trials on the 4th, 8th, and 12th week of the 13 week programme of the "In Training" running clinics. Participants were classified as injured if they experienced at least a grade 1 injury-that is, pain only after running. Logistic regression modelling and odds ratio calculation were performed for each sex using the following predictor variables: age, body mass index (BMI), previous aerobic activity, running frequency, predominant running surface, arch height, running shoe age, and concurrent cross training. Results: Age played an important part in injury in women: being over 50 years old was a risk factor for overall injury, and being less than 31 years was protective against new injury. Running only one day a week showed a non-significant trend for injury risk in men and was a significant risk factor in women and overall injury. A BMI of > 26 kg/m 2 was reported as protective for men. Running shoe age also significantly contributed to the injury model. Half of the participants who reported an injury had had a previous injury; 42% of these reported that they were not completely rehabilitated on starting the 13 week training programme. An injury rate of 29.5% was recorded across all training clinics surveyed. The knee was the most commonly injured site. Conclusions: Although age, BMI, running frequency (days a week), and running shoe age were associated with injury, these results do not take into account an adequate measure of exposure time to injury, running experience, or previous injury and should thus be viewed accordingly. In addition, the reason for the discrepancy in injury rate between these 17 clinics requires further study.

No Effect of a Graded Training Program on the Number of Running-Related Injuries in Novice Runners

“…In our trial, severity (ie, restriction of running) and a minimal duration of 1 week was added. If our definition was changed in to the definition used by Taunton et al, 24 the number of RRIs would be 34.3 per 100 runners at riskhigher than in the Vancouver Sun Run study.…”

“…In conjunction with the positive effects of running on health and fitness, it is important to consider the risk of a running-related injury (RRI). Research has shown that the incidence of RRI is high; incidence rates of RRI vary from 30% to 79%, 3,[11][12][13][14]24,28 and from 7 to 59 RRIs per 1000 hours of running. 3,11,12,19 Most RRIs are overuse injuries of the lower extremity.…”

“…The "Vancouver Sun Run" study 24 showed an injury incidence of 29.5 per 100 runners at risk in a group of novice runners following a 13-week training program, preparing for a 10-km running event. The training program of the Vancouver Sun Run 24 was designed by sports physicians to minimize the risk of sustaining an injury during the training period.…”

“…Novice runners are often physically inactive before they start to run. In the Vancouver Sun Run study 24 and our study, almost half of the participants were primarily sedentary and deconditioned people. On the Internet and in running stores and running magazines, many so-called "training programs for novice runners" preparing for a 5-km or 10-km running event in a relatively short period of time can be found.…”

The influence of energy boost and springblade footwear on the kinetics and kinematics of running

“…However, despite this, runners are also known to be highly susceptible to chronic injuries [2], with an incidence rate of around 70% over the course of one year [3]. A number of intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors have been associated with the aetiology of running injuries, such as mileage, previous injury, number of years of training, training characteristics, running mechanics, surface and footwear [4].…”