eval set · question 12 of 22 · graded by hand
Is previous injury a risk factor for running-related injury?
Previous injury is consistently identified as a significant risk factor for running-related injury across multiple studies of recreational, competitive, and postpartum runners. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Previous injury is the strongest risk factor for injury in long-distance runners, while previous non-running injuries are strongest in short-distance runners. 4
Previous injury increases injury risk 8.20-fold among Ethiopian long-distance runners. 10
In recreational runners preparing for 8-16km events, previous injury history had an odds ratio of 1.7 for new injury. 5
Combining high BMI (>30) with a previous running-related problem raised injury risk to 71% versus 43% in normal-weight runners without previous problems. 7
Previous upper or lower leg injury was associated with increased odds of new injury (OR 1.59 and 1.61 respectively) in runners with injury history. 8
Previous injury and orthotic/insert use increase injury risk in both men and women, though women have lower overall injury risk than men. 3
In postpartum runners, previous running injury is one of six factors associated with running-related pain, with risk increasing as more factors accumulate. 2
What we can't tell you
- Exact biological mechanism linking previous injury to recurrence risk
- See a professional for individualized injury risk assessment or pain evaluation
Sources
Previous injury, higher weight, competitive running, running >2 h/wk, running >20 km/wk, and stretching before running are significant risk factors for lower extremity running-related injuries.
pop. 3669 runners (injured and noninjured); 1852 (50.5%) reported at least 1 injury over the previous 12 months · direction positive (all factors increase injury risk) · design case-control study · moderate
What Are the Main Risk Factors for Lower Extremity Running-Related Injuries? A Retrospective Survey Based on 3669 Respondents (2021) · doi 10.1177/23259671211043444
Six risk factors are associated with running-related pain in postpartum runners: novice runner type, high postpartum fatigue, previous running injury, vaginal delivery, incontinence, and insufficient sleep; having ≥4 risk factors increases pain probability to 61.2%
pop. Postpartum runners with at least one child ≤36 months who ran at least once per week (n=538; 32.7% reporting running-related pain) · direction positive - presence of risk factors increases pain probability, dose-dependent (≥4 factors = 61.2% probability) · design cross-sectional survey with multivariate logistic regression · moderate
What are the biopsychosocial risk factors associated with pain in postpartum runners? Development of a clinical decision tool (2021) · doi 10.1371/journal.pone.0255383
Women are at lower overall risk than men for sustaining running-related injuries, and previous injury and orthotic/insert use are associated with increased injury risk in both sexes, with sex-specific differences in other risk factors.
pop. Adult runners · direction Negative for women vs men overall; positive for previous injury and orthotic use in both sexes; sex-specific differences in age, running distance, and experience factors · design Systematic review of longitudinal cohort studies · strong
Injuries in Runners; A Systematic Review on Risk Factors and Sex Differences (2015) · doi 10.1371/journal.pone.0114937
Previous running-related injury is the strongest risk factor for injury in long-distance runners, while previous non-running injuries are the strongest risk factor in short-distance runners.
pop. Short- and long-distance runners · direction positive (previous injuries increase injury risk, with different patterns by distance) · design systematic review · strong
Risk factors for overuse injuries in short- and long-distance running: A systematic review (2020) · doi 10.1016/j.jshs.2020.06.006
Previous injury history is a significant risk factor for running-related injuries in recreational runners preparing for 8-km or 16-km running events.
pop. Recreational runners (n=706) preparing for 8-km or 16-km running events · direction positive (OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.5) · design prospective cohort study · moderate
Injury incidence and risk factors: a cohort study of 706 8-km or 16-km recreational runners (2019) · doi 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000489
Previous injury history, marathon training, less knee valgus, and greater thorax drop to the contralateral side are risk factors for running-related injuries in recreational runners.
pop. Recreational runners (n=258) · direction positive (increased risk with previous injury, marathon training, less knee valgus, greater contralateral thorax drop) · design prospective cohort study · moderate
Aetiological Factors of Running-Related Injuries: A 12 Month Prospective “Running Injury Surveillance Centre” (RISC) Study (2023) · doi 10.1186/s40798-023-00589-1
Runners with high BMI (>30 kg/m²) and a previous running-related problem in the past 3 months face significantly higher risk of sustaining a new running-related injury compared to runners with normal BMI and no previous problems.
pop. Recreational runners from the Garmin-RUNSAFE Running Health Study cohort, stratified by BMI and previous running-related problem status. · direction positive; runners with BMI >30 kg/m² and previous injury history had 71% injury risk versus 43% in normal BMI without previous problems (cIRD 28%). · design cohort · moderate
Runners with a high body mass index and previous running‐related problems is a high‐risk population for sustaining a new running‐related injury: A 18‐month cohort study (2024) · doi 10.1002/ejsc.12206
Marathon participation and previous injuries to the upper or lower leg are associated with increased risk of new running-related injuries in recreational runners with a history of injury.
pop. Recreational runners with a running-related injury in the previous 12 months registered for a Dutch running event (5-42.2 km) · direction positive; marathon runners had 1.72x higher odds; previous upper leg injury OR 1.59; previous lower leg injury OR 1.61 · design prospective cohort study · moderate
Factors Associated With Running-Related Injuries in Recreational Runners With a History of Running Injuries (2022) · doi 10.1097/JSM.0000000000001076
Previous injury and race distance are main associated factors for running-related injuries, while weekly training volume, age, and previous participation are protective factors.
pop. 4380 runners across three race distances (10km n=1316, 21km n=2168, 42km n=896); median age 36 years · direction Protective effect of training volume (higher volume associated with lower injury risk); positive association with previous injury and increased race distance · design cross-sectional · weak
Training volume and previous injury as associated factors for running-related injuries by race distance: A cross-sectional study (2019) · doi 10.14198/JHSE.2019.143.06
Among Ethiopian 10,000-meter long-distance runners, the incidence of lower-extremity running-related injuries is 62.4%, with previous injury history, training volume, and shoe replacement frequency as significant risk/protective factors.
pop. 10,000-meter long-distance runners in Ethiopia (from running clubs and Youth Athletics Training Programs in Amhara Regional State and Addis Ababa) · direction Protective effect at moderate training volumes (40-60 km/week) and regular shoe replacement (8-11 months); previous injury increases risk 8.20-fold · design prospective cohort study · moderate
Lower-extremity running-related injuries among 10,000-meter long distance runners in Ethiopia (2019) · doi 10.14198/JHSE.2019.142.09