Email this article 
Lower-extremity running-related injuries among 10,000-meter long distance runners in Ethiopia
Abstract
Despite the popularity and health benefits of running, a popular sporting activity performed by many individuals worldwide, runners are at risk of being injured. Of concern is the lack of evidence-based data and information on Ethiopian 10, 000-meter long-distance runners. The purpose of this study was to establish the incidence and the risk factors associated with lower-extremity running-related injuries amongst 10, 000-meter long distance runners in Ethiopia. A prospective study was used over a period of ten months in eleven running clubs and twelve Youth Athletics Training Programs in Amhara Regional State and Addis Ababa. Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire on 1) demographic characteristics; 2) risk factors associates with running-related injuries and, 3) their injury status. Logistic regression analysis and odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated for the predictor variables. The incidence of running-related injury was 62.4%, corresponding to 0.35 injuries per 100 running hours or 3.54 injuries per 1000 running hours. The most commonly injured anatomical site was the knee (33.6%), with a strain the most common type of injury (36.4%). Participants previously injured had an 8.20 higher OR (2.14-31.40). Runners who train respectively 40km-50km (OR = 0.003, 95% CI, 0.000-0.073) and 50km-60km (OR = 0.053, 95% CI, 0.004-0.728) per week and runners that wore running shoes eight to eleven months (OR = 0.033, 95% CI, 0.003-0.392) was significantly associated with a protective benefit against running-related injuries. Runners, coaches, and medical professionals must acknowledge the specific risk factors associated with running-related injuries. The results underscore urgent interventions to ensure that 10 000-meter Ethiopian long distance runners become injury free.
Keywords
References
Beis, L. Y., Willkomm, L., Ross, R., Bekele, Z., Wolde, B., Fudge, B., & Pitsiladis, Y. P. (2011). Food and macronutrient intake of elite Ethiopian distance runners. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 8(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-8-7
Ellapen, T. J., Satyendra, S., Morris, J., & Van Heerden, H. J. (2013). Common running musculoskeletal injuries among recreational half-marathon runners in KwaZulu-Natal. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 25(2), 39–43. https://doi.org/10.7196/sajsm.360
Ethiopian Government. (2017). The Amhara National Regional State - Ethiopian Government Portal. Retrieved from: http://www.ethiopia.gov.et/stateamhara
Fields, K. B., Sykes, J. C., Walker, K. M., & Jackson, J. C. (2010). Prevention of running injuries. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 9(3), 176-182. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0b013e3181de7ec5
Fourchet, F., Horobeanu, C., Loepelt, H., Taiar, R., & Millet, G. P. (2011). Foot, ankle, and lower leg injuries in young male track and field athletes. International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training, 16(3), 19-23. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijatt.16.3.19
Gallo, R. A., Plakke, M., & Silvis, M. L. (2012). Common leg injuries of long-distance runners: anatomical and biomechanical approach. Sports Health, 4(6), 485–495. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738112445871
Gebremeden, Y. (2016, March 1). Ethiopian youth training project shifts to program. Ethiopian Herald. Retrieved from: http://allafrica.com/stories/201603011540
Hägglund, M. (2007). Epidemiology and prevention of football injuries (Unpublished doctoral dissertation Institutionen för hälsa och samhälle. Sweden.
Hulme, A., Nielsen, R. O., Timpka, T., Verhagen, E., & Finch, C. (2017). Risk and protective factors for middle-and long-distance running-related injury. Sports Medicine, 47(5), 869-886. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0636-4
Jacobsson, J., Timpka, T., Kowalski, J., Nilsson, S., Ekberg, J., Dahlström, Ö. & Renström, P. A. (2013). Injury patterns in Swedish elite athletics: annual incidence, injury types and risk factors. British Journal Sports Medicine, 47(15), 941-952. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2012-091651
Junior, L. C. H., Costa, L. O. P., & Lopes, A. D. (2013). Previous injuries and some training characteristics predict running-related injuries in recreational runners: a prospective cohort study. Journal of Physiotherapy, 59(4), 263-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1836-9553(13)70203-0
LeBrun, D. G., del Rosario, J., Kelly, J. D., Wren, S. M., Spiegel, D. A., Mkandawire, N., & Kushner, A. L. (2017). An estimation of the burden of sports injuries among African adolescents. Article in press; Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health. 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jegh.2017.10.010
Magnusson, S. P., Hansen, M., Langberg, H., Miller, B., Haraldsson, B., Kjoeller Westh, E. & Kjær, M. (2007). The adaptability of tendon to loading differs in men and women. International Journal of Experimental Pathology, 88(4), 237-240. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2613.2007.00551.x
Misra, A. (2014). Common sports injuries: incidence and average charges. Retrieved from: https://aspe.hhs.gov/report/common-sports-injuries-incidence-and-average-charges
Myers, J., McAuley, P., Lavie, C. J., Despres, J. P., Arena, R., & Kokkinos, P. (2015). Physical activity and cardio respiratory fitness as major markers of cardiovascular risk: their independent and interwoven importance to health status. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 57(4), 306–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2014.09.011
Nielsen, R. O., Nohr, E. A., Rasmussen, S., & Sørensen, H. (2013). Classifying running‐related injuries based upon etiology, with emphasis on volume and pace. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 8(2), 172-179. PMID: 23593555
Pecina, M. M., & Bojanic, I. (2004). Stress Fracture: Overuse Injures of the Musculoskeletal System (Second Edi). USA: CRC Press LLC.
Poppel, D. V., Scholten‐Peeters, G. G. M., Middelkoop, M. V., & Verhagen, A. P. (2014). Prevalence, incidence and course of lower extremity injuries in runners during a 12‐month follow‐up period. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24(6), 943-949. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12110
Rasmussen, C. H., Nielsen, R. O., Juul, M. S., & Rasmussen, S. (2013). Weekly running volume and risk of running‐related injuries among marathon runners. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 8(2), 111-120. PMID: 23593549
Rauh, M. and Macera, C. (2010). Comparison of injury rates in track and field athletes and cross country runners. In Caine, D. J., Harmer P. Epidemiology of Injury in Olympic Sports. UK: BlackwellPublishing Ltd. pp. 26–48.
Ristolainen, L., Kettunen, J. A., Waller, B., Heinonen, A., & Kujala, U. M. (2014). Training-related risk factors in the etiology of overuse injuries in endurance sports. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 54(1), 78-87. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24445548
Salman, A. F. (2014). Comparison of injuries between male and female handball players in junior and senior teams. The Swedish Journal of Scientific Research, 1(4), 1–15.
Saragiotto, Bruno Tirotti, et al. (2014). What are the main risk factors for running-related injuries?" Sports Medicine, 44(8), 1153-1163. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-014-0194-6
Taunton, J. E., Ryan, M. B., Clement, D. B., McKenzie, D. C., Lloyd-Smith, D. R., & Zumbo, B. D. (2003). A prospective study of running injuries: the Vancouver Sun Run "In Training" clinics. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 37(3), 239–244. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.37.3.239
Tyflidis, A., Kipreos, G., Tripolitsioti, A. D., & Stergioulas, A. T. (2012). Epidemiology of track & field injuries: a one-year experience in athletic schools. Biology of Sport, 29(4), 291-295. https://doi.org/10.5604/20831862.1019885
van Gent, B. R., Siem, D. D., van Middelkoop, M., van Os, T. A., Bierma-Zeinstra, S. S., & Koes, B. B. (2007). Incidence and determinants of lower extremity running injuries in long distance runners: a systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 41(8), 469–481. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2006.033548
van der Worp, M. P., Ten Haaf, D. S., van Cingel, R., de Wijer, A., Nijhuis-van der Sanden, M. W., & Staal, J. B. (2015). Injuries in runners; a systematic review on risk factors and sex differences. PLoS One, 10(2), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114937
van Mechelen, W. (1992). Running injuries. A review of the epidemiological literature. Sports Medicine, 14(5), 320–335. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199214050-00004
van Mechelen, W., Hlobil, H., & Kemper, H. C. (1992). Incidence, severity, Aetiology and prevention of sports injuries. Sports medicine, 14(2), 82-99. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199214020-00002
Wilber, R. L., & Pitsiladis, Y. P. (2012). Kenyan and Ethiopian distance runners: what makes them so good? International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 7(2), 92–102. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.7.2.92
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2019.142.09
License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
