Prevalence, perspectives, and management strategies of running-related injury among recreational runners

Introduction: Running-related injury is a key barrier to recreational running. Despite substantial investigation, the risk factors for, and management strategies of, running-related injury among recreational runners remain poorly understood. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken with 415 recreational runners (47.2% female, mean age 42.5 (14.2) years) to investigate associations between injury and health-seeking behaviours among recreational runners. Quantitative data were analysed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients, t-tests, and chi-squared tests. Next, a qualitative study was undertaken which employed an interpretive phenomenological analysis framework. Six male recreational runners (mean age 37.8 (SD 9.5) years, mean running experience 16.5 (SD 13.1) years) participated in focus groups which explored their experiences and perceptions of running-related injury, including their understanding of running-related injury causation, prevention, and management. Qualitative data were analysed via a six-phase reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Among the 415 surveyed runners, 53.2% (n=221) had been injured within the three months prior to being surveyed, with injury significantly associated with greater session frequency (4.0 (SD 2.6) vs 3.3 (SD 1.5) p<0.001 sessions per week) and weekly mileage (29.2 (SD 18.4) vs. 22.8 (SD 17.4) p<0.001 kilometers per week). Among those who self-reported injury within the three months prior, 42.9% (n=94) reported consulting a health professional for the management of their injury, most commonly physiotherapists, with female runners seeking health advice more frequently than males (50.9% versus 37.4%). Through the qualitative study, three themes emerged – Mind, Body, and Education – which together can be seen to form an ‘internal locus of injury’ model, which highlights the runners’ beliefs that running-related injury causality and prevention is related to their decisions regarding their running participation (such as self-selected training intensity) and that avoidance of injury lies within their personal control. Discussion: Self-reported running-related injury is highly prevalent among Australian recreational runners, and the majority of runners self-treat, continue to run through injury, and frequently manage their injuries through use of prescription and non-prescription medications. Preferences toward self-management, in contrast to professional advice should be noted by health professionals who work with runners. Development of evidence-based online resources which aim to build capability for self-regulation of training, self-management of injury, and understanding of when health-advice should be sought may be of benefit to recreational runners. Impact/Application to the field: The high prevalence of injury and propensity for self-management among recreational runners points toward a need for evidence-based, widely accessible resources aimed at assisting runners to avoid and manage running-related injury. Declaration: My co-authors and I acknowledge that we have no conflict of interest of relevance to the submission of this abstract.