Incidence, severity, and risk factors for injuries in female trail runners – a retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

OBJECTIVES : To determine the incidence, severity, and nature of injuries sustained by female trail runners and investigate selected training variables as risk factors for injuries. DESIGN : Cross-sectional, retrospective cohort study. SETTING : Online questionnaire (Jisc Online Surveys). PARTICIPANTS : Female trail runners (n = 62) aged 39.1 ± 12.4 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES : Training metrics (average weekly number of running sessions, mileage (km), session duration (mins), pace (min/km), ascent (m) and descent (m), number of running doubles per week, number of cross training doubles per week, type of cross training), incidence, severity and nature of trail running injuries sustained in the previous 12 months. RESULTS : The injury incidence was 14.3 injuries per 1000 h and mean severity score (OSTRC- H) was 80.95 ± 21.74. The main anatomical region affected was the lower limb (63.4%), primarily the ankle (13.9%), knee (13.0%) and lower leg (12.2%). The most common injury was tendinopathy (25.2%). A higher number of injuries sustained in the previous 12 months was weakly associated with a higher average duration of other (not trail) weekly running sessions (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS : Findings from this study could inform future injury prevention and treatment strategies. Prospective, longitudinal data on injuries in female trail runners is needed.