No Effect of a Graded Training Program on the Number of Running-Related Injuries in Novice Runners
- 16 October 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in The American Journal of Sports Medicine
- Vol. 36 (1), 33-39
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546507307505
Abstract
Background: Although running has positive effects on health and fitness, the incidence of a running-related injury (RRI) is high. Research on prevention of RRI is scarce; to date, no studies have involved novice runners.Hypothesis: A graded training program for novice runners will lead to a decrease in the absolute number of RRIs compared with a standard training program.Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.Methods: GRONORUN (Groningen Novice Running) is a 2-armed randomized controlled trial comparing a standard 8-week training program (control group) and an adapted, graded, 13-week training program (intervention group), on the risk of sustaining an RRI. Participants were novice runners (N = 532) preparing for a recreational 4-mile (6.7-km) running event. The graded 13-week training program was based on the 10% training rule. Both groups registered information on running characteristics and RRI using an Internet-based running log. The primary outcome measure was RRIs per 100 participants. An RRI was defined as any musculoskeletal complaint of the lower extremity or back causing a restriction of running for at least 1 week.Results: The graded training program was not preventive for sustaining an RRI (χ2= 0.016, df = 1, P = .90). The incidence of RRI was 20.8% in the graded training program group and 20.3% in the standard training program group.Conclusions: This randomized controlled trial showed no effect of a graded training program (13 weeks) in novice runners, applying the 10% rule, on the incidence of RRI compared with a standard 8-week training program.This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- The GRONORUN study: is a graded training program for novice runners effective in preventing running related injuries? Design of a Randomized Controlled TrialBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2007
- Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries among High School Cross-Country RunnersAmerican Journal of Epidemiology, 2005
- Relation between running injury and static lower limb alignment in recreational runnersBritish Journal of Sports Medicine, 2004
- A prospective study of running injuries: the Vancouver Sun Run “In Training” clinicsBritish Journal of Sports Medicine, 2003
- The Role of the Knee Brace in the Prevention of Anterior Knee Pain SyndromeThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1997
- Overuse injuries of the lower extremity in runnersScandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 1995
- Running InjuriesSports Medicine, 1992
- Prevention of Overuse Injuries of the Foot by Improved Shoe Shock AttenuationClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 1992
- Occurrence of Running Injuries in Adults Following a Supervised Training Program*International Journal of Sports Medicine, 1989
- Injuries in runnersThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1987