The purpose of this study was to present a systematic overview of published reports on the incidence and associated potential risk factors of lower extremity running injuries in long distance runners. An electronic database search was conducted using the PubMed–Medline database. Two observers independently assessed the quality of the studies and a best evidence synthesis was used to summarise the results. The incidence of lower extremity running injuries ranged from 19.4% to 79.3%. The predominant site of these injuries was the knee. There was strong evidence that a long training distance per week in male runners and a history of previous injuries were risk factors for injuries, and that an increase in training distance per week was a protective factor for knee injuries.
Sports activities and exercises are known to have a positive influence on a person’s physical fitness, as well as to reduce the incidence of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and many other chronic health problems.1–4 Because of its easy accessibility, long distance running is practised by many people and along with the growing interest in disease prevention it continues to increase in popularity. However, running may also cause injuries, especially to the lower extremities. Various studies have reported on the prevalence and incidence of running injuries occurring in long distance runners during training or races.2,3,5 Risk factors contributing to these injuries have also been reported.2,5,6
To help prevent such injuries it is necessary to summarise knowledge about potential risk factors. Thus the primary purpose of this study was to present an overview of published reports describing the incidence of various running injuries of the lower extremities in long distance runners. Our second aim was to identify risk factors associated with these running injuries.
The quality score was calculated for each study, based on the sum of the eight items specified above and scored as positive. It could therefore range from 0 to 8. Articles were judged as high quality studies when they had a quality score of 4 or more (⩾50% of the maximum attainable score). Two observers (RNvG and DS) obtained the quality scores of the studies independently, so that κ values could be calculated to describe the interobserver agreement. The κ values both for the interobserver agreement in studies describing the incidence or prevalence of lower extremity running injuries (in this calculation questions 6, 7, and 8 were left out of consideration) and for the interobserver agreement in studies describing determinants for these injuries (in this calculation all eight questions were included) were calculated separately. A κ value of >0.7 indicates a high level of agreement between assessors, a value between 0.5 and 0.7 a moderate level of agreement, and a value <0.5 a poor level of agreement.7 In case of disagreement, a final decision was made by a third observer (SMAB-Z).
SPSS 10.1 was used to calculate κ values of the quality score. For the determinants of injuries, we calculated some ORs that were not given in the reports but could be obtained from the raw data. To summarise ORs and RRs, a best evidence synthesis was used, because clinical and statistical homogeneity across the studies was absent. The level of evidence was ranked based on the guidelines of Van Tulder et al8 and was divided in the following levels:
Strong evidence: consistent findings (in ⩾75% of the studies) among multiple (⩾2) high quality studies.
Moderate evidence: consistent findings (in ⩾75% of the studies) among one high quality study and multiple low quality studies.
Limited evidence: consistent findings (in ⩾75% of the studies) among multiple low quality studies or one high quality study.
Conflicting evidence: provided by conflicting findings (fewer than 75% of the studies reported consistent findings).
Only statistically significant associations were considered as associated factors.
After examining the 1113 titles and abstracts, 172 articles were identified as potentially relevant. The full texts of 166 of these articles were retrieved (this was not possible for six), and were subsequently evaluated by both observers. Review of the complete texts excluded 155 articles, because they did not meet our criteria; thus 11 articles were selected in our study. In addition to this selection, we included six more articles after searching through the references of these 11 selected articles. Therefore our final selection comprised 17 articles (1.5%). Most of these were published in English, but there were two foreign language publications (one German and one Norwegian).
Description of the studies
Thirteen prospective cohort studies9–21 and four retrospective cohort studies22–25 were included. The study characteristics of the selected studies were described to obtain insight into the homogeneity of the study populations (table 1).
The follow up period in the studies ranged from 1 day to 18 months. The studies contained runners participating in specific training programmes or races from 4 km to a full marathon. Two studies included runners who were followed during one season of training and race participation.9,13 In one of the studies, runners wished to be notified of upcoming road races, but their exact training programme or race attendance was unknown.14 The proportions of subjects analysed ranged from 41.8% to 100%. Both the population characteristics and the injury definition differed between the various reports. The quality score of the studies ranged from 2 to 7 (table 2).
Four studies were judged as of low quality.11,18,22,24 The interobserver agreement in studies describing the incidence or prevalence, or both, of lower extremity running injuries was moderate, with a κ value of 0.60 (agreement in 83% of the questions), whereas in studies describing determinants for these injuries the κ value of 0.58 showed a moderate level of agreement (agreement in 82% of the questions). Disagreements were especially seen in items 2, 4, and 5, whereas in only two studies were more than two disagreements found.10,21
Incidence of injuries
The overall incidence of lower extremity injuries found in the 17 studies varied from 19.4% to 79.3%.9,12,14,19,21–24 In other studies in which non-lower-extremity injuries were also described and included in the overall incidence number, the reported incidence for injuries varied from 26.0% to 92.4%.10,11,13,17,18,20,25 The predominant site of lower extremity injuries was the knee, for which the location specific incidence ranged from 7.2% to 50.0%. Injuries of the lower leg (shin, Achilles tendon, calf, and heel), foot (also toes), and upper leg (hamstring, thigh, and quadriceps) were common, ranging from 9.0% to 32.2%, 5.7% to 39.3%, and 3.4% to 38.1%, respectively. Less common sites of lower extremity injuries were the ankle and the hip/pelvis (also groin), ranging from 3.9% to 16.6% and 3.3% to 11.5%, respectively (table 3).9,10,12–14,16,18–22,24
Two studies also reported the incidence numbers of injuries presented at medical aid posts during a race: 6.2%16 and 17.9%15 of runners participating in a marathon and 3.6% of runners participating in a half marathon.15
Determinants of injuries
We divided the determinants into four categories: systemic factors (table 5), running/training related factors (table 6), health factors (table 7), and lifestyle factors (table 8). Based on the large heterogeneity in the studies, pooling of the results was not possible, leaving us to present a best evidence synthesis.
Greater age was reported to be a significant risk factor for incurring running injuries in four high quality studies.15,17,19,21 However, in two high quality studies greater age was reported to be a significant protective factor.17,25 Therefore there is conflicting evidence over whether greater age is a risk factor for overall lower extremity running injuries. There was, however, limited evidence that greater age was positively associated with front thigh injuries but protective against calf injuries.17
The only significant association for overall lower extremity running injuries showed a positive relation with female sex.15 There was also limited evidence that female runners were more prone to incur hip injuries, and limited evidence that male runners were at greater risk of getting hamstring or calf injuries.17
There was limited evidence that a lower leg length difference was associated with overall lower extremity running injuries, and that a higher left tubercle–sulcus angle or a greater knee varus were risk factors for shin injuries.21 Additionally, there was limited evidence that a higher heel valgus was protective against knee and foot injuries, while a lower heel valgus and a higher right arch index were protective factors only for knee injuries.21 There was limited evidence that static biomechanical lower limb alignment was not related to lower limb injuries.12
Male runners whose height was 1.70 metres or more were reported to be at a significantly greater risk of suffering new injuries.20 Thus there was limited evidence for the positive association between male runners of greater height and lower extremity running injuries.
There was limited evidence that greater weight was protective against foot injuries,21 and there was also limited evidence that a body mass index of >26 kg/m2 protected male runners from overall lower extremity running injuries.19
Running/training related factors
Only one high quality study reported that male runners were at statistically significant greater risk when running more than two days a week,20 whereas conflicting evidence was found for female runners for this association.19,20 Running a whole year through without a break from training was reported to be a significant risk factor for incurring a lower extremity running injury. As there was only one study that reported this association, there was limited evidence for the association.20 There was conflicting evidence for an association between an increase of training and overall lower extremity running injuries.17,21 An increase of training distance per week was reported as a significant protective factor against knee injuries in two high quality studies, which means there is strong evidence for this association.17,21 There was limited evidence that an increase in days of training per week was a risk factor for incurring front thigh injuries,17 that an increase of training distance per week was a risk factor for hamstring injuries,17 and that an increase of hours training per week was a protective factor for knee as well as foot injuries.21
Two high quality studies reported training for more than 64 km/week as a significant risk factor for male runners incurring lower extremity running injuries,14,20 while in female runners this association was only reported in one high quality study.20 Thus there was stronger evidence for an association between higher training distance for male runners than for female runners. There was no evidence for an association between training less than 60 km in the last three months before a marathon and overall lower extremity running injuries, because this association was only significant in one low quality study.11
Lower extremity injuries in one high quality study were associated with longer race distances (marathon races compared with 5 and 10 km races).23 Thus there was limited evidence that participating in races of greater distance was a risk factor for incurring these injuries.
There was conflicting evidence for an association between inexperience in running and overall lower extremity injuries.14,15,17,21,25 An association between hamstring or knee injuries and participation in a marathon for the first time was reported in one high quality study,17 while foot injuries were associated with more experienced runners in another high quality study. Thus there was limited evidence for inexperience as a risk factor for hamstring or knee injuries or as a risk factor for foot injuries.
There was limited evidence for an association between female runners running on concrete surfaces and lower extremity injuries.14 There was no significant association between male runners running on a specific surface and lower extremity injuries and between training on hilly terrain, or running in the dark or in the morning and these injuries, implying that there is no association between these determinants and lower extremity running injuries.14
For an association between competitive running and lower extremity running injuries there was limited evidence for male runners only.20
There was limited evidence for an association between shin injuries and the use of a greater number of shoes for running.21 There was limited evidence that a shoe age of four to six months was a protective factor for lower extremity running injuries in male runners, but was a risk factor in female runners.19
A history of previous injuries was reported to be a significant risk factor for injuries in multiple high quality studies.14,20,21,23 Thus there was strong evidence for an association between a history of previous injuries and lower extremity running injuries. For an association between a positive medical history and these injuries there was only limited evidence.17
There was limited evidence that drinking alcohol was a risk factor for incurring blisters or front thigh injuries and that participation in cycling and aerobics were risk factors for, respectively, front thigh and hamstring injuries.17 There was, however, some evidence that smoking was a protective factor against blisters.17
Three reviews on running injuries were published more than a decade ago.25–27 New studies on running injuries since those reviews have been incorporated into this systematic review. Further, in contrast to the methods used in those reviews, we undertook a systematic search strategy. We also evaluated the quality of the studies included and carried out a best evidence synthesis for determinants of lower extremity running injuries. Thus our review is a rigorous update of earlier reviews and provides evidence of risk factors for these injuries.
Incidence of injuries
The reported overall incidence of lower extremity running injuries showed a large range (19.4% to 79.3%). An increase in the incidence range is mainly seen in studies that also included non-lower-extremity injuries in their incidence numbers (19.4% to 92.4%), although higher incidences may partly reflect higher rate of lower extremity injury. Previous reviews reported ranges of 24% to 83%,26 33% to 85%,27 and 24% to 77%.28
The most common site of lower extremity injuries was the knee (7.2% to 50.0%), followed by the lower leg (9.0% to 32.2%), the foot (5.7% to 39.3%), and the upper leg (3.4% to 38.1%). Less common sites of lower extremity injuries were the ankle (3.9% to 16.6%) and the hip/pelvis (3.3% to 11.5%). Our results supports Van Mechelen’s conclusion28 that most of running injuries are located in the knee.
Determinants of injuries
Only limited evidence was found for some of the systemic, lifestyle, and health factors as risk factors for running injuries. These included greater age (a clear cut off point for greater age could not be observed), sex, lower leg length difference, greater left tubercle–sulcus angle and greater knee varus, greater height in male runners, drinking alcohol, participation in cycling and aerobics, and a positive medical history. We found strong evidence for a greater training distance per week in male runners and a history of previous injuries as a risk factor for both male and female runners. There was also strong evidence that increased training distance per week was a protective factor, although only for knee injuries. It remains unclear why increasing weekly distance is protective for knee injuries. However, the relation between distance and injury may not be simple and there may be a fine balance between overuse and underconditioning among long distance runners. For several other training/running related factors we only found limited evidence that they were risk factors (greater training frequency in male runners, running the whole year through, greater training distance in female runners, participation in races of greater distance, women running on concrete surfaces, competitive male runners, increase in days of training per week, increase in training distance per week, level of experience in running, use of more shoes for running, and shoe age).
Although limited evidence was found that greater weight and a body mass index of >26 kg/m2 were protective factors, this association may be caused by the fact that in these groups of runners less training activity is being undertaken.
Because of the specific search definition and because the language restriction we used to identify studies in the PubMed–Medline database, we may have found fewer studies on running related injuries than are available. In the studies identified there was a lack of standard definition of injury. In some studies running injuries were defined as running related injuries to the lower extremities, but other studies also included non-lower-extremity injuries and even problems such as headache, dehydration, fatigue, and others. Further, different study designs, differing data collection methods, and differing methods of determining the denominator might have affected the incidence rates of the studies. Also, the type of runners selected for each study varied—usually a specific selection of runners was made (for example, male runners, recreational runners, runners in training programmes, race participants). All these factors may have influenced the final incidence rates of injuries and the odds ratios and relative risks for the determinants.
We decided only to include studies that investigated long distance runners. The studies of Bennell et al9 and Lysholm and Wiklander13 both described a group of track and field athletes; however, they also described a separate group of long distance/marathon runners. Both these studies were included in our review because they described the results of the long distance runners separately from the whole track and field athletes group; thus only the results for the long distance runners were included in this study.
The results could also be biased by a self selection process of healthy runners participating in running events or training programmes in the studies included, or by injured runners not responding to questionnaires or overreporting of injuries because of the self reporting nature of some studies.
For some subgroups reported here, there was low power. This might have influenced our conclusions, based on the best evidence synthesis. For example, associations were found for male but not female runners, while the estimate of the association in both sexes was the same. This probably reflects a reduced statistical power in the female subgroup.
Fortunately, 12 studies reported the sites where the lower extremity running injuries occurred. Specific diagnoses, however, were discussed in only three studies and not even for all injured runners.10,11,20 Also the impact of these running injuries was rarely reported. Very little information was provided on the duration and severity of these injuries, and there was a lack of information about health care visits (for example, to general practitioner, physiotherapist, orthopaedic specialist) or the treatment used (drugs, rest, operation, other).
The presence of associations between determinants and running injuries suggests that advice and education may still be necessary. An unmodifiable risk factor is a history of previous injuries. Runners with this risk factor should pay extra attention to signs of injuries, avoid other determinants of injuries, and take time to recover fully from their injuries. The training distance per week is a modifiable risk factor and therefore runners should preferably not exceed 64 km/week.
Further investigation is necessary, because the incidence of running injuries in long distance runners is not clear and knowledge of the specific determinants of these injuries is still unsatisfactory. Future studies should clearly define the type of runners included (sprinters, middle distance, or long distance runners) and also specifically report information about training characteristics and race participation, so that the results can be applied on the correct group of runners. Also investigators should try to use a universal definition of running injury, so that results can easily be compared.
What is already known on this topic?
Besides its positive heath effects, running may also cause injuries, especially to the lower extremities. Various studies have reported on the prevalence and incidence of running injuries occurring in long distance runners during training or races. Risk factors contributing to the occurrence of these injuries have also been reported.
What this study adds
The incidence of lower extremity running injuries in published reports ranges from 20% to 79%.
The predominant site of these injuries is the knee.
There is strong evidence that a long training distance per week in male runners and a history of previous injuries are risk factors for running injuries.
Likewise the length of observation period needs to be equal in different studies and the incidence numbers need to be expressed in comparable units.
Finally, to obtain information on the clinical consequences of running injuries, details on the duration and severity of these injuries, as well as information on the use of professional medical advice and the chosen treatment, is required.
The reported incidence of running injuries to the lower extremities in long distance runners varied from 19.4% to 92.4%. The most common site of lower extremity running injuries was the knee. There is strong evidence that a greater training distance per week in male runners and a history of previous injuries are risk factors for lower extremity running injuries. We recommend further well designed studies on risk factors for running injuries for male and female runners.