Illness is more prevalent than injury in trail runners participating in a mountainous ultra trail race
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Date
Authors
Boshielo, Patience Matshepo
Jansen van Rensburg, Audrey
Viljoen, Carel Thomas
Botha, Tanita
De Villiers, Christina Elizabeth
Ramagole, Dimakatso Althea
Seyani, Limbikani
Janse van Rensburg, Dina Christina
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor and Francis
Abstract
OBJECTIVES : Trail running is a popular off-road sport involving running in natural environments over various terrains, often in remote locations. This study aims to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of injuries and illnesses, i.e. medical encounters, on race day among trail runners in a high-altitude ultra trail race.
METHODS : This descriptive cross-sectional study on an ultra trail race (38 km, 65 km and 100 km) in South Africa, included participants 18 years or older. Of the 331 race participants, 285(86.1%) consented to participate in the study. Data collection included demographic details, injuries (body region, specific body area, tissue type, pathology) and illnesses (organ system, symptom cluster, etiology). Risk factor analysis includes sex, age, weight, height, race distance, illness and injury history, training and running experience. Frequency (n, %), prevalence (%) and odds ratios (OR; 95%CI) are reported.
RESULTS : Eighty-nine (31.2%) individuals reported 131 medical encounters [49 injuries (37.4%); 82 illnesses (62.6%)]. Injuries were sustained by 14.7% of athletes, and 22.5% reported illnesses. For injuries, the lower limb was mainly involved (n = 41; 83.7%). Most injuries affected the foot (n = 18; 36.7%), ankle (n = 10; 20.4%) and knee (n = 7; 14.3%). Tissue types mainly involved skin (n = 21; 42.8%), ligament (n = 7; 14.3%) and muscle (n = 7; 14.3%). Multiple (n = 45; 54.9%) and gastrointestinal (n = 17; 20.7%) organ systems were mainly involved in illnesses. Only 100 km runners reported dehydration (n = 28; 31.5%), and one in every six of these runners (n = 5; 17.9%) did not finish. Runners reporting fatigue (n = 21; 23.6%) had a high (n = 8; 38.1%) did not finish rate. Two in every five participants (n = 36; 40.4%) with a medical encounter, did not finish. No medical encounter-associated risk factors were identified.
CONCLUSIONS : Illnesses were more common than injuries during the mountainous ultra trail race. Sustaining a medical encounter increased the chance of not completing the race. Further research on the epidemiology of race day medical encounters in trail running is required.
Description
DATA SHARING STATEMENTS: The data obtained in this study is available on reasonable request due to privacy and ethical restrictions.
Keywords
Trail running, Medical encounters (MEs), Injury, Illness, Risk factors, Did not finish, SDG-03: Good health and well-being
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG-03:Good heatlh and well-being
Citation
Patience M. (Matshepo) Boshielo, Audrey Jansen van Rensburg, Carel
Viljoen, Tanita Botha, Christina E. (Elizabeth) de Villiers, Dimakatso Ramagole, Limbikani Seyani & Dina C. (Christa) Janse van Rensburg (2025) Illness is more prevalent than injury in trail runners participating in a mountainous ultra trail race, The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 53:1, 27-35, DOI: 10.1080/00913847.2024.2367401.