TY - JOUR
T1 - Running-related injuries in middle school cross-country runners
T2 - Prevalence and characteristics of common injuries
AU - Wu, Alexander C.
AU - Rauh, Mitchell J.
AU - DeLuca, Stephanie
AU - Lewis, Margo
AU - Ackerman, Kathryn E.
AU - Barrack, Michelle T.
AU - Heiderscheit, Bryan
AU - Krabak, Brian J.
AU - Roberts, William O.
AU - Tenforde, Adam S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
PY - 2022/7
Y1 - 2022/7
N2 - BACKGROUND: Understanding the prevalence and factors associated with running-related injuries in middle school runners may guide injury prevention.OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of running-related injuries and describe factors related to a history of injury.DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study.SETTING: Survey distributed online to middle school runners.METHODS: Participants completed a web-based survey regarding prior running-related injuries, training, sleep, diet, and sport participation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Prevalence and characteristics differentiating girls and boys with and without running-related injury history adjusted for age.PARTICIPANTS: Youth runners (total: 2113, average age, 13.2 years; boys: n = 1255, girls: n = 858).RESULTS: Running-related injuries were more prevalent in girls (56% vs. 50%, p = .01). Ankle sprain was the most common injury (girls: 22.5%, boys: 21.6%), followed by patellofemoral pain (20.4% vs. 7.8%) and shin splints (13.6% vs. 5.9%); both were more prevalent in girls (p < .001). Boys more frequently reported plantar fasciitis (5.6% vs. 3.3%, p = .01), iliotibial band syndrome (4.1% vs. 1.4%, p = .001) and Osgood-Schlatter disease (3.8% vs. 1.2%, p = .001). Runners with history of running-related injuries were older, ran greater average weekly mileage, ran faster, had fewer average hours of sleep on weekends, skipped more meals, missed breakfast, and consumed less milk (all p < .05). Girls with history of running-related injuries reported higher dietary restraint scores, later age of menarche, more menstrual cycle disturbances, and higher likelihood of following vegetarian diets and an eating disorder diagnosis (all p < .05). Runners with no history of running-related injuries were more likely to have participated in ≥2 years of soccer or basketball (p < .001).CONCLUSIONS: Most middle school runners reported a history of running-related injuries and certain injuries differing by gender. Modifiable factors with the greatest association with running-related injuries included training volume, dietary restraint, skipping meals, and less sleep. Sport sampling, including participation in ball sports, may reduce running-related injury risk in this population.
AB - BACKGROUND: Understanding the prevalence and factors associated with running-related injuries in middle school runners may guide injury prevention.OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of running-related injuries and describe factors related to a history of injury.DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study.SETTING: Survey distributed online to middle school runners.METHODS: Participants completed a web-based survey regarding prior running-related injuries, training, sleep, diet, and sport participation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Prevalence and characteristics differentiating girls and boys with and without running-related injury history adjusted for age.PARTICIPANTS: Youth runners (total: 2113, average age, 13.2 years; boys: n = 1255, girls: n = 858).RESULTS: Running-related injuries were more prevalent in girls (56% vs. 50%, p = .01). Ankle sprain was the most common injury (girls: 22.5%, boys: 21.6%), followed by patellofemoral pain (20.4% vs. 7.8%) and shin splints (13.6% vs. 5.9%); both were more prevalent in girls (p < .001). Boys more frequently reported plantar fasciitis (5.6% vs. 3.3%, p = .01), iliotibial band syndrome (4.1% vs. 1.4%, p = .001) and Osgood-Schlatter disease (3.8% vs. 1.2%, p = .001). Runners with history of running-related injuries were older, ran greater average weekly mileage, ran faster, had fewer average hours of sleep on weekends, skipped more meals, missed breakfast, and consumed less milk (all p < .05). Girls with history of running-related injuries reported higher dietary restraint scores, later age of menarche, more menstrual cycle disturbances, and higher likelihood of following vegetarian diets and an eating disorder diagnosis (all p < .05). Runners with no history of running-related injuries were more likely to have participated in ≥2 years of soccer or basketball (p < .001).CONCLUSIONS: Most middle school runners reported a history of running-related injuries and certain injuries differing by gender. Modifiable factors with the greatest association with running-related injuries included training volume, dietary restraint, skipping meals, and less sleep. Sport sampling, including participation in ball sports, may reduce running-related injury risk in this population.
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U2 - 10.1002/pmrj.12649
DO - 10.1002/pmrj.12649
M3 - Article
C2 - 34053194
AN - SCOPUS:85109422859
SN - 1934-1482
VL - 14
SP - 793
EP - 801
JO - PM and R
JF - PM and R
IS - 7
ER -