eval set · question 10 of 22 · graded by hand
Are novice runners injured more often than recreational runners?
Novice runners face a significantly greater injury risk per 1000 hours of running than recreational runners (17.8 vs 7.7 per 1000h). 1
Novice runners have significantly higher incidence of running-related injuries compared to more experienced/recreational runners. 2
Running-related injury incidence varies by runner level: 14.9% in novice, 26.1% in recreational, 62.6% in competitive runners in one large cohort, showing higher raw incidence in recreational than novice in that dataset. 3
In novice runners, using a self-devised training programme (vs structured programmes like Couch to 5K) is associated with higher injury rates, and running experience over time appears protective. 4
What we can't tell you
- Whether the relative injury risk between novice and recreational runners is consistent across all studies, since one large dataset shows higher incidence in recreational than novice runners while others show the opposite
- Underlying causal mechanisms explaining differences in injury risk between novice and recreational runners
- see a professional
Sources
Novice runners face a significantly greater risk of running-related injury per 1000 hours of running than recreational runners
pop. Novice runners and recreational runners · direction Negative for novice runners (higher injury risk: 17.8 per 1000h vs 7.7 per 1000h in recreational runners) · design Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies and RCTs · strong
Incidence of Running-Related Injuries Per 1000 h of running in Different Types of Runners: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2015) · doi 10.1007/s40279-015-0333-8
Novice runners have significantly higher incidence of running-related injuries compared to experienced runners.
pop. Dutch runners from the general population (n=4621, including 1405 novice runners; 41.8% female; average age 34.2 years). Novice runners defined as those who started running within the past 12 months; experienced runners defined as those running for more than 1 year. · direction Negative for novice runners (higher injury incidence) · design Cohort study (prospective questionnaire-based over 4-year period) · moderate
Differences in injury risk and characteristics of injuries between novice and experienced runners over a 4-year period (2018) · doi 10.1080/00913847.2018.1507410
Running-related injury incidence varies substantially by runner level (14.9% in novice, 26.1% in recreational, 62.6% in competitive runners), but evidence does not consistently link injuries with specific training parameters.
pop. 23,047 runners across novice, recreational, and competitive levels · direction Injury incidence increases with competitive level, but no consistent association with training parameters · design Systematic review of prospective studies · strong
The association between running injuries and training parameters: A systematic review. (2021) · doi 10.4085/1062-6050-0195.21
In novice runners, using a self-devised training programme in the first year of running is associated with higher injury rates compared to using a structured programme such as Couch to 5K.
pop. UK novice and recreational runners (1145 respondents, recruited through parkrun) · direction negative for self-devised programmes (higher injury risk); protective effect of running experience over 2 years · design Cross-sectional study · weak
Running with injury: A study of UK novice and recreational runners and factors associated with running related injury. (2018) · doi 10.1016/j.jsams.2018.05.021