Lower-extremity running-related injuries among 10,000-meter long distance runners in Ethiopia

Abstract

Despite the popularity and health benefits of running, a popular sporting activity performed by many individuals worldwide, runners are at risk of being injured. Of concern is the lack of evidence-based data and information on Ethiopian 10, 000-meter long-distance runners. The purpose of this study was to establish the incidence and the risk factors associated with lower-extremity running-related injuries amongst 10, 000-meter long distance runners in Ethiopia. A prospective study was used over a period of ten months in eleven running clubs and twelve Youth Athletics Training Programs in Amhara Regional State and Addis Ababa. Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire on 1) demographic characteristics; 2) risk factors associates with running-related injuries and, 3) their injury status. Logistic regression analysis and odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated for the predictor variables. The incidence of running-related injury was 62.4%, corresponding to 0.35 injuries per 100 running hours or 3.54 injuries per 1000 running hours. The most commonly injured anatomical site was the knee (33.6%), with a strain the most common type of injury (36.4%). Participants previously injured had an 8.20 higher OR (2.14-31.40). Runners who train respectively 40km-50km (OR = 0.003, 95% CI, 0.000-0.073) and 50km-60km (OR = 0.053, 95% CI, 0.004-0.728) per week and runners that wore running shoes eight to eleven months (OR = 0.033, 95% CI, 0.003-0.392) was significantly associated with a protective benefit against running-related injuries. Runners, coaches, and medical professionals must acknowledge the specific risk factors associated with runningrelated injuries. The results underscore urgent interventions to ensure that 10 000-meter Ethiopian long distance runners become injury free.

A systematic review of running-related musculoskeletal injuries in runners

“…Of the 42 included studies, 24 were prospective cohort studies. 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 Of these, 3 studies included retrospective injury proportion data. 29 , 32 , 35 A total of 15 articles were retrospective studies, 9 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 and the remaining 3 articles were cross-sectional studies.…”

The Association Between Running Injuries and Training Parameters: A Systematic Review

“…Altogether, the studies involved 23,047 runners (44% female), which only included individuals aged 17 and older. Seven studies were conducted specifically in novice runners (n=3,315; 63% female), [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] thirteen in recreational runners (n=7,888; 44% female), [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] runners (n=414; 48% female), [36][37][38][39][40] and ten in runners of mixed levels of ability and experience (n=11,430; 39% female)(Table 2). 4,[41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]…”

“…16-18, 20, 22, 48 In recreational runners, the knee (26.5%), foot/ankle (20.5%) and lower leg (20.2%) were the most frequent, 23, 25-32, 34, 35, 48 while competitive runners most often injured their foot/ankle (39.4%), knee (25.4%) and lower leg (20.8%). 36,37,39 In cohorts of runners of mixed levels, the most commonly injured body parts were the foot/ankle (26.3%), the knee (26.1%) and the lower leg (23.1%).…”

“…Four HQ, 32,35,37,42 two MQ 16,43 and two LQ 27,36 studies suggested that greater running distance could increase injury risk. Three of these HQ studies reported that weekly distances O n l i n e F i r s t 37 were found to increase the risk of RRI.…”

“…Four HQ, 32,35,37,42 two MQ 16,43 and two LQ 27,36 studies suggested that greater running distance could increase injury risk. Three of these HQ studies reported that weekly distances O n l i n e F i r s t 37 were found to increase the risk of RRI. Another HQ study stated that running less than 40 km per week was a strong protective factor against calf injuries in recreational runners.…”