Citation

Vlahek P, Matijević V. Acta Clin. Croat. 2018; 57(1): 31-38.

Affiliation

Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Klinička bolnica "Sestre milosrdnice" : Institut za kliničko-medicinska istrazivanja u Zagrebu)

DOI

10.20471/acc.2018.57.01.04

PMID

30256009

Abstract

The aim was to determine types and incidence of running-related lower extremity injuries and identify sociodemographic and motivational risk factors in novice runners attending an eight-month running school. Between January 2011 and October 2014, 349 novice runners were included. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and data on running motivation and self-perceived health and fitness were collected. Subjects were screened for lower extremity injuries at regular three-month intervals. The cohort mean age was 35.46±7.31 years, and 271 (79.5%) were female. There were 173 (49.9%) injuries recorded, less frequently among women (42.9% vs. 62.7%, p=0.016; OR 0.878, 95% CI 0.788-0.977). The mean body mass index was 23.89±3.88 kg/m2 at baseline and 22.99±3.35 kg/m2 post-school (p<0.001). Median self-perceived fitness level on a ten-point visual analog scale was 4 (interquartile range (IQR) 3-5) at baseline and 8 (IQR 7-8) post-school (p<0.001). Median self-perceived overall health was 6 (IQR 5-8) at baseline and 8 (IQR 7-9) post-school (p<0.001). The knee had a significantly higher rate of injuries compared to other anatomic regions (p<0.001). Subjects listed improvement of fitness as the most common motivation for entering the school (n=159; 45.7%). In conclusion, novice runners should include strengthening exercises for knee injury prevention into their training routine.

Language: en

Keywords

Cohort studies; Exercise; Knee injuries; Lower extremity – injuries; Motivation; Risk factors; Running – injuries; Surveys and questionnaires