Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Risk Factors for Running-Related Injuries among South African Trail Runners

Carel T. Viljoen, Dina C. Janse van Rensburg, Evert Verhagen, Willem van Mechelen, Elzette Korkie and Tanita Botha
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Carel T. Viljoen: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Dina C. Janse van Rensburg: Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI), Pretoria 0186, South Africa
Evert Verhagen: Amsterdam Collaboration for Health and Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VU University Medical Center, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Willem van Mechelen: Amsterdam Collaboration for Health and Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, VU University Medical Center, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Elzette Korkie: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Tanita Botha: Department of Statistics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: Trail running involves running on varying natural terrains, often including large elevation gains/losses. Trail running has a high risk of injury, and runners often participate in remote regions where medical support is challenging. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology, clinical characteristic, and associated injury risk factors among trail runners. A modified Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire for Health Problems (OSTRC-H) was used biweekly to collect running-related injury (RRI) and training history data prospectively, among 152 participants (males n = 120, females n = 32) over 30 weeks. We report an overall injury rate of 19.6 RRIs per 1000 h and an RRI mean prevalence of 12.3%. The leading anatomical site of RRIs was the lower limb (82.9%), affecting the knee (29.8%), shin/lower leg (18.0%), and the foot/toes (13.7%). A history of previous RRI in the past 12 months ( p = 0.0032) and having a chronic disease ( p = 0.0188) are independent risk factors for RRIs among trail runners. Two in three trail runners sustain an RRI mainly affecting the knee, shin/lower leg, and foot/toes. A history of previous RRI in the past 12 months and a having chronic disease is independently associated with RRI among trail runners. These results could be used to develop future RRI prevention strategies, combined with clinical knowledge and experience.

Keywords: off-road running; lower limb injury; history of RRI; chronic disease (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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