Open AccessCommon running musculoskeletal injuries among recreational half-marathon runners in KwaZulu-Natal
Author(s) -
T.J. Ellapen,
S Satyendra,
J Morris,
HJ van Heerden
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
south african journal of sports medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2078-516X
pISSN - 1015-5163
DOI - 10.17159/2078-516x/2013/v25i2a372
Subject(s) - medicine , physical therapy , stress fractures , fibula , tibia , cohort , recreation , surgery , political science , law
Objective. To document the prevalence and nature of running-related musculoskeletal injuries among recreational half-marathon runners over a 12-month period (1 July 2011 - 31 June 2012).Methods. Data were collected from runners (N=200) who officially ran half-marathon road races during February - June 2012. Runners, whose participation in the study was dependent on voluntary informed consent, were required to complete a self-report questionnaire probing the prevalence and nature of running musculoskeletal injuries in the 12 months preceding recruitment. Probability was set at p≤0.05.Results. One hundred and eighty (90%) runners reported sustaining musculoskeletal injuries (p<0.001). The anatomical site most vulnerable to injury was the knee (26%), followed by the tibia/fibula (22%) and the lower back/hip (16%) (p<0.001). The intrinsic factors predisposing runners to musculoskeletal injuries were deviant quadriceps and hip flexion angles (p≤0.05).Conclusion. Recreational runners in our cohort sustained a high prevalence of knee, tibia/fibula and lower back/hip injuries.