Running (cont.)
What about the risk of running injuries?
No one has a crystal ball and can
predict who will or will not get injured from running. Until recently, it was
believed that running less than 20 miles per week lowered the risk of injury,
but that recommendation was based on a small number of studies. Now, however, a
new study called a meta-analysis (a study that reviews many studies on one
subject) evaluated studies of running injuries and published the following
interesting results:
1. The overall incidence of lower-extremity injuries varied
from 19.4% to 79.3%, thus the range is wide, which implies that it is difficult
to predict who will get injured.
2. The most predominant site of injury was the
knee.
3. Higher age was reported as a significant risk factor to incur running
injuries in four high-quality studies, but two other high-quality studies
reported that higher age was a significant protective factor, thus the evidence
is conflicting and so it's not clear if running when you are older will cause or
protect you from injury.
4. Increasing distance during the week does not appear
to be a risk factor for injury, and in fact, in some studies, it was shown to be
protective against injury. However, this may be because only strong runners
increase their mileage and they may be less prone to injury. More research needs
to be done before conclusions can be drawn about increasing mileage and the risk
of injury.
5. Running more than 40 miles per week was a risk factor for both
male and female runners to incur lower-extremity running injuries, although the
risk was higher for males, perhaps because they tend to weigh more than women.
6. There appears to be no association between the use of a warm-up and lower-extremity injuries. This means that stretching beforehand may not reduce your
risk of injury. This is not a surprise, as there is virtually no research to show
that stretching prevents any type of injury.
7. The most common site of lower-extremity injuries was the knee (7.2% to 50.0%), followed by the lower leg (9.0%
to 32.2%), the foot (5.7% to 39.3%), and the upper leg (3.4% to 38.1%). Less
common sites of lower-extremity injuries were the ankle (3.9% to 16.6%) and the
hip/pelvis (3.3% to 11.5%).
8. A history of previous injuries is a risk factor
for running injuries. Runners with previous injuries should pay extra attention
to signs of injuries, avoid overtraining (like exceeding 40 miles per week), and
take time to fully recover from their injuries.
In summary, the most important findings from this research are that (1)
running more than 40 miles per week is a risk factor for injury, (2) previous
injury is a risk factor for future injury, and (3) the most common site of
injury is the knee*.
* I recommend straight leg raises to strengthen the thigh muscles and protect
the knee against injury. To do them, lie on the floor on your back, one knee
bent, the other straight, hands palm-down under the buttocks to support the low
back. Contract the quadriceps on the straight leg, then raise the leg to the
height of the other knee. Pause one to two seconds at the top, then lower the leg but
do not allow it to touch the floor. Repeat 10-15 reps, three sets. You can use ankle
weights if these are very easy. Start with one pound and work up. You should
always be able to do 10-15 reps. As you get stronger, you can progress to leg
extensions, leg curls, leg presses, squats, and other leg exercises.
Next: How much running do I need to do? »
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