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

Abstract

Objective: To synthesise the current evidence on the incidence of running-related injuries (RRI) and their association with training parameters (distance, duration, frequency, intensity), as well as recent changes in training parameters. Data sources: Searches were conducted in Medline/Ovid, CINAHL, Embase and SportDiscus up to July 7, 2020. Study selection: Included articles had to report prospective data on RRIs and training parameters, or any changes in parameters, and be published in English or French. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full-texts. Data extraction: Data extraction and quality assessment (QualSyst) were performed by two independent raters. Data synthesis: Thirty-six articles totaling 23,047 runners were included. Overall, 6,043 runners (26.2%) sustained an RRI (incidence range: 8.8% to 91.3%). The incidence of RRI was 14.9% in novice runners (range: 9.4 to 94.9%), 26.1% in recreational runners (range: 17.9 to 79.3%) and 62.6% in competitive runners (range: 52.6 to 91.3%). The three most frequently injured body parts were the knee (25.8%), foot/ankle (24.4%) and lower leg (24.4%). Overall, there was conflicting evidence about the association between weekly running distance, duration, frequency, intensity or specific changes in training parameters and the onset of RRIs. Conclusions: Despite high rates of RRIs, current evidence does not consistently link RRIs with specific training parameters or recent changes in training parameters. Therefore, caution should be taken when recommending optimal parameters or progressions. Given the multifactorial nature of RRIs, future studies also need to consider the interaction between training parameters, as well as psychosocial, hormonal, lifestyle and recovery outcomes to better understand the onset of RRIs.

Current perception and practice of athletics coaches about the modification of footstrike pattern in endurance runners: A survey

“…Strengthening sessions of foot-ankle muscles allow improvements of the physical capacity of the tissue undergoing the most stress for MFS and FFS runners to reduce loads. 39 This is consistent with the suggested hypothesis of running related injuries which are ultimately due to an excess of loading on anatomical structures compared to their capacity to support it. However, excessive loading is athlete-specific and depends on various factors including lifestyle, recovery, psychological, training load factors.…”

Concurrent Evolution of Biomechanical and Physiological Parameters With Running-Induced Acute Fatigue

“…The tremendous increase in the popularity of running (Rothschild, 2012) as a sport has hastened the need to understand the risk factors for running related injuries (RRI) arising out of maladaptation to training. While the direct relation of biomechanical risk factors and training load to the instances of lower extremity RRIs is debated (Ceyssens et al, 2019;Fredette et al, 2021), these factors are understood to be influenced by acute fatigue, especially resulting from endurance running (Verschueren et al, 2020). In this context, acute fatigue can be understood as the decline in performance caused by physical exertion during sports (Knicker et al, 2011), measured during or immediately after the sporting activity.…”

Biomechanical and Musculoskeletal Measurements as Risk Factors for Running-Related Injury in Non-elite Runners: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies

“…There is some evidence that particular training characteristics, especially relating to the rate of progression in training volume and intensity, may contribute to the risk of RRI [ 11 ]. While the contribution of training parameters to RRI remains not well understood [ 12 ], this may support the suggestion that the relationship between training characteristics and biomechanical variables should be considered in determining RRI causality [ 66 ]. Research into such relationships is justified.…”

“…While risk factors for RRI are not well understood, there is some evidence that previous injury [ 10 ] and particular training errors, such as pronounced increases in training volume or intensity, may be contributors [ 11 ]; however the evidence for this relationship is inconsistent [ 12 ]. Atypical lower limb alignment and biomechanical function are proposed to play a role in the development of lower limb injury [ 13 ], and may contribute to development of RRI.…”