In this thesis, we included 3,768 runners in a prospective cohort study and followed these runners for 12 months during 4 large running events. Runners were asked to report information about demographics, training related variables and health related variables.
The first questionnaire was returned 4 weeks before the start of the running event, and a follow up questionnaire was returned every 3 months (for a year). We found that almost 50 percent of the runners experienced an RRI. Predominant sites of injuries were knee, calf and Achilles tendon.
In previous literature, previous RRIs (strongest), higher BMI, higher age, less experience and lower training distance were found as risk factors. Our risk model included previous RRIs (strongly increased risk), higher running volume (minimally protective), higher age (minimally protective) and higher running distance (slightly increased risk).
Despite the large amount of data collected, it was difficult to determine to what extent runners were exposed to possible risk factors during a 12-month timeframe, as runners use a micro- and macro periodisation during a running season in preparation for an event. Future research should focus on individual changes in possible risk factors during a running season.
> From: Van Poppel et al., J Sport Health Sci 10 (2021) 14-28 . All rights reserved to Elsevier B.V. Click here for the online summary.
Additional references
For the additional publications from this thesis, please see the additional references below:
- Van Poppel et al. Risk models for lower extremity injuries among short- and long distance runners: a prospective cohort study. Musculoskelet Sci Pract 36 (2018) 48-53.
- Van Poppel et al. Risk factors for lower extremity injuries among half marathon and marathon runners of the Lage Landen Marathon Eindhoven 2012: A prospective cohort study in the Netherlands. Scand J Med Sci Sports 26 (2016) 226-234.
- Van Poppel et al. Prevalence, incidence and course of lower extremity injuries in runners during a 12-month follow-up period. Scand J Med Sci Sports 24 (2014) 943-949.
