Common running musculoskeletal injuries among recreational half-marathon runners in KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

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.